Discover the history, land, wildlife, economy, transportation, communication government, holidays, festivals, sports, leisure, and culture of Bulgaria. This book traces Bulgaria’s history through Thracian, Byzantine, and Ottoman rule, the Balkan Wars, World Wars I and II to today. Landforms such as the Danube River, Balkan Peninsula, the Black Sea and the Valley of Roses are introduced, and major cities such as Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna are highlighted. Historic landmarks such as the Rila Monastery, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Cyril and Methodius National Library are covered. Bulgarian folkways and acclaimed artists such as Zahari Zograph and Ilya Petrov are also included. In addition, bold glossary terms, phonetic spellings, a fast facts page, a graphic timeline, a recipe, an index, maps, and full-color photos accompany this easy-to-read text.