Neolithic settlements on the territory of present-day Bulgaria.

Thracians settle in the eastern Balkan Peninsula.

Alexander the Great of Macedonia creates a Great Hellenic Empire which includes Bulgaria.

Beginning of the Roman invasion in the Balkans.

Thrace becomes Roman province after two and a half centuries of military attacks.

West Roman Empire (Rome) falls after Goth, Vandal and Hun invasions. Bulgarian territory remains part of East Roman Empire (Byzantium/Constantinople).

Slavs settle on the Balkans.

Bulgars arrive from Central Asia.

1st Bulgarian Kingdom established by Slavs and Bulgars. At that time there were only three states in Europe - the Western Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) and Bulgaria. 1st Bulgarian Capital - Pliska.

Byzantine missionary brothers Cyril & Methodius developed the first Bulgarian alphabet that was to assist the unifying of Bulgarian Nation and the adoption of Christianity.

Tzar (King) Boris I - Conversion to Christianity to unify people.

Tzar (King) Simeon - expands Bulgaria's territory by almost twice the size and ushers in a cultural Golden age. 2nd Bulgarian Capital - Preslav.

Bulgaria falls to Byzantines for 170 years.

2 nd Bulgarian Kingdom. 3rd Bulgarian Capital - Veliko Tarnovo.

The zenith of the 2nd Bulgarian Kingdom under Ivan Assen II. Boundaries expand, 2nd Golden Age.

Beginning of Ottoman invasion in the Balkans.

Bulgaria falls and remain under Ottoman occupation for almost 500 years - a dark age for Bulgarian cultural development.

Father Paissy's Slav-Bulgarian history marks the beginning of the Bulgarian cultural Renaissance (known as National Revival). There are many armed uprisings against the Ottomans and many massacres.

Russia declares war on Turkey.

Liberation Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule.

3rd Bulgarian Kingdom.

The Treaty of San Stefano. Bulgaria was supposed to regain its former territories.

The Treaty of Berlin. The Great Powers take away 2/3 of the territorial gains of Bulgaria. Bulgaria is divided into two parts - Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia (part of the Ottoman Empire).

Sofia becomes capital.

Unification of Eastern Rumelia with the Principality of Bulgaria.

Declaration of independence(from the Ottoman rule).

1st and 2nd Balkan wars. Bulgaria loses territories on all sides.

Bulgaria enters 1st WW on the German side in the hope of reclaiming its lost territories.

Peace Treaty of Neuilly. Defeated Bulgaria loses land on all sides to Serbia, Romania and Greece.

Bulgaria is under the reign of Prince Boris III. A time of instability.

Bulgaria joins the 2nd WW on the side of the Axis Powers.

Soviet Army crosses into Bulgaria.

End of Bulgarian monarchy. 45 years socialism.

Communist party resigns. Beginning of the multi-party democracy.

First free elections.

Bulgaria becomes a fully fledged member of NATO.

Bulgaria signs the EU Accession Treaty, fixing full entry to the EU at the beginning of 2007.