Agriculture and Economy of Bulgaria

Almost 47% of Bulgaria’s land is used for pasture. The country raises a variety of livestock, including sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and pigs. Among these, wool is the most valuable product, and it is primarily exported to Austria and Germany. Another significant source of income is the export of hides and skins. Each year, Bulgaria ships over five million sheep pelts to international markets.

The main agricultural product in Bulgaria is wheat, which is exported mainly to Germany and Turkey. Additionally, Bulgaria has a very profitable industry that involves the distillation of attar of roses, a highly valued oil. This industry is especially important in the provinces along the Black Sea, and Bulgaria is famous for producing some of the best rose oil in the world Private Tour Ephesus.

The Bulgarian Language

The Bulgarian language is unique and is a type of Slavonic language. It shares some similarities with Russian, but it is not the same. It can be compared to how Scotch is related to English. Although Bulgarian includes Greek letters in its alphabet and has some Greek words in its vocabulary, it is fundamentally a Slavonic language.

A Bulgarian and a Greek would not understand each other because their languages are completely different. Similarly, a Russian peasant would not be able to easily communicate with a Bulgarian peasant due to the difference in local dialects. However, educated Russians and Bulgarians can understand each other even when speaking in their own languages.

In terms of writing, Russians can read Bulgarian newspapers quite easily. Linguists believe that the Bulgarian language is very similar to the ancient Slavonic language. Interestingly, many Bulgarian words can be traced back to the ancient Thracian and Illyrian languages, showing the historical depth of the Bulgarian culture.

The Origins of the Bulgarians

The origin of the Bulgarian people is somewhat mysterious. There is no clear answer to where they came from. Some experts believe they might have been Finns, while others think they were Tartars. However, the strongest evidence suggests that their ancestors lived along the Volga River.

The history of the Bulgarians is not well-documented, which is unusual for such a strong and intelligent group of people. The Bulgarians lost their original language but kept their name. On the other hand, the Slavs they conquered lost their name but kept their language. This is an interesting and unique part of Bulgaria’s history.