Changes

The early medieval Western Balkans must have consisted of multiple Slavic ethnic tribes. It appears that their history has not been recorded. From a Greco-Roman perspective they were all identified as Slavs. The Slavs found themselves living in a '''medieval multi-ethnic''' region and it was the most powerful chieftains (the main political players) who left a '''mark''' on history. The old language groups which have become diluted over time and are slowly becoming extinct (now referred to as dialects) may reflect the many Slavic tribes who invaded Roman Dalmatia.  

The early medieval Western Balkans must have consisted of multiple Slavic ethnic tribes. It appears that their history has not been recorded. From a Greco-Roman perspective they were all identified as Slavs. The Slavs found themselves living in a '''medieval multi-ethnic''' region and it was the most powerful chieftains (the main political players) who left a '''mark''' on history. The old language groups which have become diluted over time and are slowly becoming extinct (now referred to as dialects) may reflect the many Slavic tribes who invaded Roman Dalmatia.  

It is important to stress that these dialects in early medieval time could have been seen as languages. Current dialect groups within modern Croatia are:

It is important to stress that these dialects in early medieval time could have been seen as languages. Current dialect groups within modern Croatia are:

* Chakavian dialect

* Chakavian dialect

The region south of the river Cetina has been sometimes historically referred to as Red Croatia, which would indicate Croatian influence was felt beyond the river Cetina. Historians F.Rački and V. Klaić think  there might have been Croatians as far south as Kosovo.{{quote|

The region south of the river Cetina has been sometimes historically referred to as Red Croatia, which would indicate Croatian influence was felt beyond the river Cetina. Historians F.Rački and V. Klaić think  there might have been Croatians as far south as Kosovo.{{quote|

''F. Rački and V. Klaić think these Croats may have operated not only along the coast but inland as far east as what is now Kosovo, intermixed with Serb or other Slavic tribes...'' <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA62&dq=V.+Klaić+Red+Croatia+John+Fine&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8RbkUN3YJ4iZkAW4lIGIAw&sqi=2&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=V.%20Klaić%20Red%20Croatia%20John%20Fine&f=false  When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:]  by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p62-p63)

''F. Rački and V. Klaić think these Croats may have operated not only along the coast but inland as far east as what is now Kosovo, intermixed with Serb or other Slavic tribes...'' <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA62&dq=V.+Klaić+Red+Croatia+John+Fine&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8RbkUN3YJ4iZkAW4lIGIAw&sqi=2&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=V.%20Klaić%20Red%20Croatia%20John%20Fine&f=false  When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:]  by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p62-p63)

  John V. A. Fine Jr</ref>}} Over a period of time in the middle ages we had new identities of Southern Slavs emerging. Among these were; Croatians, Narantani, Bulgarians, Serbs and others.

  John V. A. Fine Jr</ref>}}  

When the Serbian forces were annihilated in the ''Battle of Kosovo'' by the [[Directory:Turkey|Ottoman Empire]] in '''1389''' very large groups of peoples started to migrate westward. The Ottomans caused huge instability in the area and actually managed to twice besiege Vienna. The Western Balkans from that period forward began to acquire new groups of people in its regions (i.e., Croatians, Serbs, Albanians, Greeks, Turks & others), thus creating new ethnic mixes. I believe that due to these events the old Slavic tribal borders, what was left of them, changed forever during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.  

When the Serbian forces were annihilated in the ''Battle of Kosovo'' by the [[Directory:Turkey|Ottoman Empire]] in '''1389''' very large groups of peoples started to migrate westward. The Ottomans caused huge instability in the area and actually managed to twice besiege Vienna. The Western Balkans from that period forward began to acquire new groups of people in its regions (i.e., Croatians, Serbs, Albanians, Greeks, Turks & others), thus creating new ethnic mixes. I believe that due to these events the old Slavic tribal borders, what was left of them, changed forever during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.