“My intention while working on the book was to write it for a broad public, one interested in our history, and in a far less traditional picture of our early past.  So it’s really intended for an educated audience of non-historians who nonetheless have an interest in history.”  These were the words of the famous historian Professor Hristo Matanov in an interview with Radio Bulgaria.  His book provides interesting answers and interpretations to a range of questions.  For example, why was it that thirteen hundred years ago Khan Asparukh founded the First Bulgarian Republic on the Balkan peninsular, a crossroads?  Why couldn’t he find a less troubled territory to settle in?  According to Professor Matanov, like ordinary people, rulers can’t always do just what they like.

“They do what they can, given the circumstances,” he adds.  “And in this case, that’s exactly what happened.  Quite simply, the Bulgarians moved to the only lands that were free for them to settle on in the 670s, which were what we now call Dobruja.  Some people might ask why they didn’t continue on into the heart of Europe.  That simply wasn’t possible – the route was cut off by other states that existed back then.  So that just wasn’t an option.  We have to be realistic about things.  To put it in a nutshell, what we’ve ended up with is what was possible at the time.  A more detailed and clearer explanation is given in the book for anyone who’s interested.”

What were Bulgaria’s main contributions to life in the Middle Ages?

“Bulgaria’s main contribution has to be to culture, more specifically to Slavonic liturgy, which was born in Bulgaria.  Bulgaria became the first focal point of a world that praised God’s name in the Slavonic language.  Previously three languages had been considered sacred:  Hebrew, Latin and Greek.  So Bulgaria was the cradle of a rich, and in spirit, democratic culture.  Geopolitically, there were several occasions when Bulgaria prevented Europe being invaded by different non-European civilisations and tribes from Asia or the northern part of the Black Sea.  But in realistic terms, Bulgaria contributed relatively little when it came to technology;  it’s either that or no such records were kept in the Middle Ages.  The Germanic lands, France and China made large technological developments, thereby advancing the development of humanity.  Bulgaria appears to have been slightly outside this process, though its development was in step with the European average.  It’s important to make that clear, it’s important for how we see ourselves as a nation.”

What were the main challenges facing our leaders in the Middle Ages?

“The main challenge facing Bulgaria resulted from its geopolitical position.  The country is located in an area usually referred to as a crossroads, but seen from a historical and cultural perspective, it’s actually more like a large assembly point.  That meant the main challenge was to resist pressure coming from the south, the north-east and the north-west.  So Bulgarian rulers, and the Bulgarian state as a whole, had a very difficult job using their relatively limited resources to defend a difficult territory, and to survive and develop.  And hence there were a whole series of challenges as the country experienced periods of rise and decline.”

The book is written in a very accessible and attractive way.  “It’s no coincidence that in the introduction I point out that history is the only science that’s kept its muse – Clio,” says Professor Matanov.  “History is both science and inspiration.  And my aim was to inspire without undermining the historical integrity.  That’s why I tried to make the book interesting, so that more people could read it.”

English:  Christopher Pavis