The first Bulgarian state dates back from 681 AD with the confederation of the Slav and Thracians under the rule Khan Asparuh. However, the first written reference of Bulgaria can be found in a Roman manuscript that dates back to 452 AD.

During the time of 700 - 718 AD, Khan Tervel turned Bulgaria into what was then a key political force while at the same time expanding Bulgaria's territory. During the time of 803 - 814 AD, Khan Krum forced the country to reach the borders of Carl's the Great Empire, which was in the west, as well as to the walls of Constantinople, which were found in the east.

Bulgaria adopted Christianity in 864 AD

The "Golden Age" (called this in cultural and educational regards) occurred during 893 - 927 AD, during the reign of Tzar Simeon I. The Cyrillic alphabet, created by Cyril and Methodius, appeared during this time. The Cyrillic alphabet was then adopted by other Slavic states such as Serbia and Russia.

In 1018, after many years of war, Bulgaria fell under Byzantium rule. In 1186 Peter and Assen led a triumphant movement against Byzantium. At this time the second Bulgarian Kingdom was formed, with Turnovo as its capital. Bulgaria entirely regained its importance in the years that followed, restoring significant schools of the arts and literature.

Under Tzar Ivan Assen II From 1218 - 1214 AD, under the rule of Tzar Ivan Assen II, Bulgaria recovered its past territories from the Black Sea to the Aegean and Adriatic Seas.

During 1396, after Bulgaria was divided into two distinct kingdoms, the country fell underneath the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Bulgaria attempted, during the first few years, to regain its freedom. However, success was not achieved until the "hayduti" appeared, a time of covert movements.

Bulgaria regained its national individuality by the early 18th century and religious, cultural, and educational systems were restored. Georgi Sava Rakovski, a writer and journalist, along with Vassil Levski, Lyben Karavelov, Hristo Botev organized a brave revolutionary movement that resulted in what was known as the "April Uprising" in 1876. The movement was lost but had already gained the attention of several countries in Europe. The result of this was the Russian - Turkish War, dating from 1877 - 1878. The outcome of this war was the restoration of Bulgaria. At this time Bulgaria was divided into three states: (1) Thrace and Macedonia under the Ottoman influence, (2) Eastern Romelia ruled by a Christian governor, and (3) The Principality of Bulgaria ruled by Prince Alexander Battemberg.

The people of Bulgaria never completely accepted the decision, made in 1878 at the Berlin Congress, to divide Bulgaria into three states. An uprising occurred from 1878 - 1879, led by the people. This uprising was known as the Kresna-Razlog Uprising.

At long last, in 1885, the union of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia was announced. In 1903 the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising took place, another significant time for Bulgaria. In 1912, Bulgaria took part in the Balkan War, fighting alongside Greece and Serbia to secure the freedom of Thrace and Macedonia. The war was won by Bulgaria but in a future war, that took place in 1913, Turkey and Romania defeated Bulgaria.

During World War I, a Bulgarian intervention led to a major national catastrophe. Boris III took over the throne from his father Kniaz Ferdinand in 1918. As well, in 1919 the Neuilly Peace Treaty forced harsh provisions upon Bulgaria at which time the country lost its passage to the Aegean Sea.

During the 1940s, Bulgaria was an ally to Germany. Tsar Boris III, however, sided with the opinions of the public and refused to deport over 50,000 Bulgarian Jews. It was in 1944 that communists invaded Bulgaria and took power. This forced Tsar Simeon II, the Queen Mother, and Princess Maria-Louisa to leave the country. Communist rule took over all economics in Bulgaria and all other political parties were banned.

November 10th, 1989 saw the beginning of political changes in Bulgaria. In 1991 major changes were made to the country's constitution. Today Bulgaria adheres to the rest of the political European constitution.

Bulgaria has been part of the Council of Europe since 1991. And in 2004 Bulgaria became a member of NATO. It was on the 25th of April 2005, that Bulgaria signed the Treaty of Accession of Republic of Bulgaria to the European Union.