About the Journal
The Annual is the oldest periodical of Sofia University, it was first published in 1905, and plays an important role in the academic life of the University. It serves as an authoritative tribune for the authors, enabling them to familiarise the academic community with their research and achievements. Since 1977, the Faculty of History has been publishing its own edition of the Annual, which is written by established scholars from Bulgaria and abroad, as well as young researchers presenting the results of their first research. Among the contributors are Prof. Alexander Foll, Acad. Vasil Gyuzelev, Prof. Nikolay Genchev, Prof. Krumka Sharova, Prof. Georgi Bakalov, Prof. Milcho Lalkov, Prof. Tsvetana Georgieva and many others.
In modern times, the journal's editorial board gives priority to a wide range of historical topics of a discursive nature, research based on a variety of methods and approaches, using a wide range of sources and documents; project-funded studies are accepted. Materials from young scolars are encouraged and published in the Debuts section. The Annual provides the opportunity to publish opinions and reviews presented in the Reviews section; from issue 108 onwards, GSU-IF also has an In Memoriam section.
The Editorial board calls on the authors to familiarize themselves with the requirements for publication in the journal and strictly comply with them. Author's copyright is protected under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Current Issue
This volume constitutes an integrated interdisciplinary collection of studies that examine the historical evolution of the Balkans across broad temporal, methodological, and thematic dimensions — spanning from population-level genetic reconstructions of medieval societies to investigations of social changes during the socialist period of the twentieth century. The historical contributions explore critical aspects of medieval state-building, warfare, diplomacy, and religious policy, including the incorporation of Macedonia under Tsar Kaloyan, the Venetian and Latin involvement in the Fourth Crusade, the military agency of Villehardouin, and Byzantine–Bulgarian monastic relations, as well as reflections on Bulgaria’s international position in the post-World War II diplomatic arena. In parallel, the anthropological and ethnological studies provide rich empirical data based on field research along the Danube, addressing identity formation, linguistic heritage, community memory, ecological interactions, and migration-driven social configurations, with attention to groups such as Vlachs, Jews, Roma, and lifestyle migrants. Complemented by critical reviews and commemorative essays, the volume articulates a multidisciplinary vision of historical inquiry that synthesizes biological, cultural, and socio-political perspectives, and thereby contributes to a nuanced understanding of the enduring and transformative dynamics of Balkan societies.
