The History of Bulgaria: From Prehistoric Times to the First Bulgarian Empire

Bulgaria is a country located in Southeast Europe. The history of Bulgaria can be traced back to the first settlements on the lands of modern Bulgaria, which date back to at least 1.4 million years ago. The earliest evidence of hominid occupation was discovered in what is today Bulgaria. Around 5000 BC, a sophisticated civilization already existed which produced some of the first pottery, jewelry, and golden artifacts in the world.

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The Thracians appeared on the Balkan Peninsula after 3000 BC. In the late 6th century BC, parts of what is nowadays Bulgaria, in particular the eastern region of the country, came under the Persian Achaemenid Empire. In the 470s BC, the Thracians formed the powerful Odrysian Kingdom which lasted until 46 BC when it was finally conquered by the Roman Empire.

During the centuries, some Thracian tribes fell under ancient Macedonian and Hellenistic, and also Celtic domination. This mixture of ancient peoples was assimilated by the Slavs, who permanently settled on the peninsula after 500 AD. Meanwhile, in 632 AD, the Bulgars formed an independent state north of the Black sea that became known as Great Bulgaria under the leadership of Kubrat. Pressure from the Khazars led to the gradual disintegration of Great Bulgaria in the second half of the 7th century. One of Kubrat’s successors, Asparuh, leading some of the Bulgar tribes settled in the area around the Danube delta and subsequently conquered Scythia Minor and Moesia Inferior from the Byzantine Empire, expanding his new kingdom further into the Balkan peninsula.

The crucial Battle of Ongal in 680 AD, the peace treaty with Byzantium in 681 AD, and the establishment of a permanent Bulgarian capital at Pliska south of the Danube mark the beginning of the First Bulgarian Empire. The new state brought together local Byzantine population and migrant population as Early Slavs under Bulgar rule, and a slow process of mutual assimilation began. In following centuries Bulgaria established itself as a powerful empire dominating Balkans through its aggressive military traditions which led to development of a distinct ethnic identity.

Certainly! The history of Bulgaria is quite extensive and fascinating. The earliest evidence of hominid occupation discovered in what is today Bulgaria date from at least 1.4 million years ago. Around 5000 BC, a sophisticated civilization already existed which produced some of the first pottery, jewelry, and golden artifacts in the world. After 3000 BC, the Thracians appeared on the Balkan Peninsula. In the late 6th century BC, parts of what is nowadays Bulgaria, in particular the eastern region of the country, came under the Persian Achaemenid Empire. In the 470s BC, the Thracians formed the powerful Odrysian Kingdom which lasted until 46 BC when it was finally conquered by the Roman Empire. During the centuries, some Thracian tribes fell under ancient Macedonian and Hellenistic, and also Celtic domination. This mixture of ancient peoples was assimilated by the Slavs, who permanently settled on the peninsula after 500 AD. Meanwhile, in 632 AD, the Bulgars formed an independent state north of the Black sea that became known as Great Bulgaria under the leadership of Kubrat. Pressure from the Khazars led to the gradual disintegration of Great Bulgaria in the second half of the 7th century. One of Kubrat’s successors, Asparuh, leading some of the Bulgar tribes settled in the area around the Danube delta and subsequently conquered Scythia Minor and Moesia Inferior from the Byzantine Empire, expanding his new kingdom further into the Balkan peninsula.

The crucial Battle of Ongal in 680 AD, the peace treaty with Byzantium in 681 AD, and the establishment of a permanent Bulgarian capital at Pliska south of the Danube mark the beginning of the First Bulgarian Empire. The new state brought together local Byzantine population and migrant population as Early Slavs under Bulgar rule, and a slow process of mutual assimilation began. In following centuries Bulgaria established itself as a powerful empire dominating Balkans through its aggressive military traditions which led to development of a distinct ethnic identity.