Bulgaria is one of the oldest states in Europe – first founded in the late 7th century by Bulgar tribes originally from Central Asia. The succeeding centuries saw struggles with the Byzantine Empire, with Bulgaria at times a major European power. In the 9th century the Cyrillic alphabet was developed by the 2 monks, saints Cyril and Methodius and contributed to a unique Christian Slavonic culture.

Eventually in the 14th century the Ottoman Turks overran Bulgaria and remained for nearly 5 centuries, Bulgaria finally achieving independence in 1908.

Following the two world wars in the 20th century Bulgaria fell into the soviet sphere of influence and in 1948 became a People's Republic. Communist domination ended in 1990 when Bulgaria held its first multi-party election since WW2 and began the long and difficult journey towards political democracy and a market economy. Inflation, unemployment, corruption and organised crime have hindered this process.