Plovdiv

Plovdiv ({{lang-bg|???????}}; Greek:Philippopolis, ?????????????) is a city in Bulgaria and the capital of the Plovdiv Oblast (district). With a population of 376 785 (as of 15 September 2004), it is the country's second largest city (after the capital, Sofia). It is located in the Bulgarian part of Thrace on the riverbanks of Maritsa river and the famous Seven Hills. The population is predominantly Bulgarian, though there are also Roma (Gypsy), Turkish, Greek, Hebrew and Armenian minorities.

History

The history of Plovdiv reaches back 6,000 years, longer than either Athens or Rome, making it one of Europe's longest continually inhabited cities. Originally known as a Thracian city named Eumolpia, in 342 BCE it was conquered by Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, who renamed it Philippopolis. It was later independent under the Thracians, who called it Pulpudeva (the translation of "Philippopolis"), until it was incorporated into the Roman Empire, under which it was called Thrimontium (City of Three Hills) and served as capital of the province of Thrace. Many Roman ruins can still be seen in the city.

Related Topics:
Athens - Rome - Europe - Philip II of Macedon - Alexander the Great - Thracians - Roman Empire - Thrace

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The Slavs took the city in the 6th century and named it Puldin, and the Bulgars conquered it in 815. The name Plovdiv first appears in the 15th century.

Related Topics:
Slavs - 6th century - Bulgars - 815 - 15th century

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Under Ottoman rule, Plovdiv was a major center of the Bulgarian nationalist movement, and the first Bulgarian language printing house was built in the city. While the city was liberated from the Ottomans during the Battle of Plovdiv in 1878, it was not originally part of the newly established Principality of Bulgaria. Instead it was the capital of the semi-independent Region of Eastern Rumelia, until that area finally joined Bulgaria in 1885 after the Unification of Bulgaria.

Related Topics:
Ottoman - Bulgarian language - Battle of Plovdiv - 1878 - Principality - Eastern Rumelia - 1885 - Unification of Bulgaria

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Under communist rule since the end of World War II, Plovdiv was the center of that country's democracy movement, which finally overthrew the pro-Soviet regime in 1989.

Related Topics:
Communist - World War II - 1989

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Plovdiv hosted specialized exhibitions of the World's Fair three times (1981, 1985, and 1991).

Related Topics:
World's Fair - 1981 - 1985 - 1991

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