THRACE, thris, anciently a part of the Balkan Peninsula, whose territory was some what indefinite, but which comprised the region north of Macedonia, including Scythia. Its territory was understood differently at differ ent times by the ancients, but was later limited to the country between the northern boundary of Macedonia and the Danube and that which lies between the Black Sea, the Bosporus, the Propontis and the Hellespont, the yEgean Sea and the Strymon River. The Balkans divided it into two parts — the Romans recognized only the southern division as Thrace. The land was inhabited by wild tribes, abounded in mines, had fertile lands and produced celebrated horses. The chief mountains were the Hwmus (Balkan), Rhodope and Pang-xus. The largest river, thd Hebrus or Maritza. The chief towns, Abdera where Democritus •was born; Sestos and Byzantium. The mythological founders of Greek poetry, music and philosophy are sup posed to have come from Thrace. The Thracians were classed as barbarians up to about 475 B.C., when Xerxes invaded the coun
try and introduced some Eastern customs. His rule was short, but Philip of Macedon in the 4th century occupied a portion of the territory, and in 133 B.C. it came tinder the power of Rome. Native kings maintained a nominal rule, however, for several centuries. About 335 A.D.
Constantine sent a colony of Sarrnatians to Thrace and continued to colonize the country. A few years later Thrace was overrun by the Goths and later by Attila and his Huns. In the following centuries a Bulgarian population developed, and about 1450 the country came under Turkish rule. For modern history see BULGARIA; BALKAN PENINSULA; SERBIA.
The Thracians can hardly be regarded as a distinct race, being a mixed people much con fused with the Illyrians. The early tribes were low in morals and addicted to phallic worship. Their dialects were closely allied to the Greek. The native deities were Ares, Bendis and Dionysius. See ILLYRIA.