The Bulgarian Revolution

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Every nation has extraordinary monuments, statues, and buildings that remind people of important historical events, places, and people.

This lesson will explore some of the national monuments of a modern European nation: Bulgaria.

Before you can understand the significance of the monuments, however,  you must learn some of the history behind this country.

Find Bulgaria on the map of Europe below.

• Did you locate it in the lower right-hand corner bordering the Black Sea?

Read the following passage about the rise of the modern nation of Bulgaria.

People have lived in the now Bulgaria land for thousands of years. Many people have lived in and ruled over that land, including the Thracians, the Ancient Persians — who came from the East — and the Romans. The Bulgarians arrived about 1,800 years ago.

The Bulgars came from the lands of Central Asia and are related to the Turks, the people of modern Turkey, and other places. The Bulgarians built two empires of their own before the Turks conquered them in the year 1396 AD.

In April 1876, Bulgarians revolted against Ottoman rule. The Ottoman Empire was weakening. Many people at the time called the Ottoman Empire "the sick man of Europe" because of the empire's many troubles.

Bulgaria finally declared independence from the Ottoman Empire on September 22, 1908, a day marked by a national holiday every year.

Now, write down information to answer the following questions.

• How long have the Bulgarian people lived in the land now called Bulgaria?
• Who has ruled Bulgaria over the centuries?
• When did Bulgaria finally gain its independence?

Check your answers against the paragraph below.

You are now ready to explore some of Bulgaria's exciting history by touring its most important monuments in the Got It? section!