Sofia

Article summary

Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river and has many mineral springs, such as the Sofia Central Mineral Baths. It has a humid continental climate. Known as Serdica in antiquity, Sofia has been an area of human habitation since at least 7000 BC. The recorded history of the city begins with the attestation of the conquest of Serdica by the Roman Republic in 29 BC from the Celtic tribe Serdi. During the decline of the Roman Empire, the city was raided by Huns, Visigoths, Avars, and Slavs. In 809, Serdica was incorporated into the First Bulgarian Empire by Khan Krum and became known as Sredets. In 1018, the Byzantines ended Bulgarian rule until 1194, when it was reincorporated by the Second Bulgarian Empire. Sredets became a major administrative, economic, cultural and literary hub until its conquest by the Ottomans in 1382. From 1530 to 1836, Sofia was the regional capital of Rumelia Eyalet, the Ottoman Empire's largest and most important province. Bulgarian rule was restored in 1878. Sofia was selected as the capital of the Third Bulgarian State in the next year, ushering a period of intense demographic and economic growth. Sofia is the 14th-largest city in the European Union.…

Key claims

1. area: 10,000 people — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of birth: 1978 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of establishment: 1891 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. date of foundation: 1860 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. date of foundation: 1888 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
6. population: 11,694 inhabitants — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
7. population: 265,248 people — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
8. students: 20,000 students — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the area is "10,000 people". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of birth is "1978". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of establishment is "1891". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the date of foundation is "1860". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the date of foundation is "1888". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the population is "11,694 inhabitants". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. The record states that the population is "265,248 people". What evidence would count against this claim?
9. The record states that the students is "20,000 students". What evidence would count against this claim?
10. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
11. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377804382