Changes

===Romanized Slavs===

===Romanized Slavs===

The new population of Slavs invaded and then probably settled in the centre of the island. They spoke old Slavic '''Chakavian''' which is the language of the old medieval Croatian Dukes (Latin: "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit" c. 880 AD). The centre of the island had its strategic qualities which allowed protection on all sides from attack by sea. It also had fertile land which allowed cultivation.  After the invasion of Slavic tribes, the region stabilised to a certain extent. The Byzantines and the ''Republic of Venice''  and others, started to exert a political economic influence over the region.

The new population of Slavs invaded and then probably settled in the centre of the island. They spoke old Slavic '''Chakavian''' which is the language of the old medieval Croatian Dukes (Latin: "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit" c. 880 AD). The centre of the island had its strategic qualities which allowed protection on all sides from attack by sea. It also had fertile land which allowed cultivation.  After the invasion of Slavic tribes, the region stabilised to a certain extent. The Byzantines and the ''Republic of Venice''  and others, started to exert a political, economic and culture influence over the region.

[[File:740px-Roman provinces of Illyricum, Macedonia, Dacia, Moesia, Pannonia and Thracia.jpg|thumb|right|375px|The Roman province of Dalmatia (pink colour) in the Western Roman Empire. 476 AD]]Dalmatians Romans and the Republic of Venice brought ''Mediterranean cultural'' to the Slavs. Christianity was one aspect of this. In essence Slavs on the island were Romanized (adopted Latin culture).

[[File:740px-Roman provinces of Illyricum, Macedonia, Dacia, Moesia, Pannonia and Thracia.jpg|thumb|right|375px|The Roman province of Dalmatia (pink colour) in the Western Roman Empire. 476 AD]]Dalmatians Romans and the Republic of Venice brought ''Mediterranean cultural'' to the Slavs. Christianity was one aspect of this. In essence Slavs on the island were Romanized (adopted Latin culture).

The 19th and 20th century theories concerning the identity of these early Korčula Slavs seem to be mistaken. The latest scholarly and archaeological research <ref>Some of the latest research studies:

The 19th and 20th century theories concerning the identity of these early Korčula Slavs seem to be mistaken. The latest scholarly and archaeological research <ref>Some of the latest research studies:

* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=When+Ethnicity+did+not+Matter+in+the+Balkans&hl=en&ei=Xr9ETaLAN4--uwO7j8SDAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false When Ethnicity did not Matter in the Balkans] by John Van Antwerp Fine.

* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=When+Ethnicity+did+not+Matter+in+the+Balkans&hl=en&ei=Xr9ETaLAN4--uwO7j8SDAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false When Ethnicity did not Matter in the Balkans] by John Van Antwerp Fine.

* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=B2LFRiT1nfYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Venice+and+the+Slavs&hl=en&ei=2r9ETfzgCoS0vwOShpndAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Venice and the Slavs:] The Discovery of Dalmatia in the Age of Enlightenment by Larry Wolff.

* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=B2LFRiT1nfYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Venice+and+the+Slavs&hl=en&ei=2r9ETfzgCoS0vwOShpndAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Venice and the Slavs:] The Discovery of Dalmatia in the Age of Enlightenment by Larry Wolff.

* [http://www.cambridge.org/au/academic/subjects/history/european-history-450-1000/making-slavs-history-and-archaeology-lower-danube-region-c500700 The Making of the Slavs History and Archaeology of the Lower Danube Region, c.500–700:] Part of Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series AUTHOR: Florin Curta, DATE PUBLISHED: May 2007.</ref> states that the Slavs of Southern Dalmatian were identified as neither Croatians <ref>'''Note''': Recent DNA studies have stated that more than three quarters of today's Croatian men are the descendants of Europeans who inhabited Europe 13 000-20 000 years ago. The first primary source (factual-that its authenticity isn't disputed) to mention the Croatian-Hrvat identity in the Balkans was '''Duke Branimir''' (Latin:'' "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit"''  c. 880 AD). Branimir was a Slav from Dalmatia.</ref> or Serbs. The newcomers to Roman Dalmatia were called Slavs by the Greco-Roman community. This term was first used by the Byzantines and was written in the 6th century in Byzantine Greek.   

* [http://www.cambridge.org/au/academic/subjects/history/european-history-450-1000/making-slavs-history-and-archaeology-lower-danube-region-c500700 The Making of the Slavs History and Archaeology of the Lower Danube Region, c.500–700:] Part of Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series AUTHOR: Florin Curta, DATE PUBLISHED: May 2007.</ref> states that the Slavs of medieval Southern Dalmatian were identified apon arrival as neither Croatians <ref>'''Note''': Recent DNA studies have stated that more than three quarters of today's Croatian men are the descendants of Europeans who inhabited Europe 13 000-20 000 years ago. The first primary source (factual-that its authenticity isn't disputed) to mention the Croatian-Hrvat identity in the Balkans was '''Duke Branimir''' (Latin:'' "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit"''  c. 880 AD). Branimir was a Slav from Dalmatia.</ref> or Serbs. The newcomers to Roman Dalmatia were called Slavs by the Greco-Roman community. This term was first used by the Byzantines and was written in the 6th century in Byzantine Greek.   

Later the Slavic peoples started to identify themselves and separated into different groups (or by others). It seems that in Southern Dalmatia the Slavic identity lasted much longer. As centuries went by Coastal Dalmatian Slavs started to identify themselves as ''Dalmatians'' as well as (later) Croatians.  

Later the Slavic peoples started to identify themselves and separated into different groups (or by others). It seems that in Southern Dalmatia the Slavic identity lasted much longer. As centuries went by Coastal Dalmatian Slavs started to identify themselves as ''Dalmatians'' and (later) as well as Croatians.  

There is archaeological evidence from '''16th century''' where the Croatian identity was starting to be used. Stone writings in Zavalatica are dedicated to events from 889 AD. It describes a clash between the Slavic population and the Venetian army. Marinko Gjivoje wrote about the find in 1972. The stone writings use: ''Hrvat Dalmatinac'' in its writings. ''Hrvat'' means Croat in Croatian.<ref>[http://www.korcula.net/history/mmarelic/script.htm History-Korcula.net] Marko Marelic-S. Francisco-USA</ref>

There is archaeological evidence from '''16th century''' where the Croatian identity was starting to be used. Stone writings in Zavalatica are dedicated to events from 889 AD. It describes a clash between the Slavic population and the Venetian army. Marinko Gjivoje wrote about the find in 1972. The stone writings use: ''Hrvat Dalmatinac'' in its writings. ''Hrvat'' means Croat in Croatian.<ref>[http://www.korcula.net/history/mmarelic/script.htm History-Korcula.net] Marko Marelic-S. Francisco-USA</ref>