Changes

'''The''' ancient peoples of Dubrovnik identified themselves as '''Ragusans'''. Latin-Illyrian families created the Republic of Ragusa. Modern theories say that a small town was already there during the times of the Roman Empire (some say even earlier).<ref>Note: Recent findings of artefacts in Dubrovnik suggest to be [[Greece|Greek]] in origin.</ref>

'''The''' ancient peoples of Dubrovnik identified themselves as '''Ragusans'''. Latin-Illyrian families created the Republic of Ragusa. Modern theories say that a small town was already there during the times of the Roman Empire (some say even earlier).<ref>Note: Recent findings of artefacts in Dubrovnik suggest to be [[Greece|Greek]] in origin.</ref>

Refugees from Roman Epidaurus in the 7th century turned it into a fortified city. Over the centuries, it became a City State importantly called Ragusa. Later it became a Republic (1358), also importantly called Republic of Ragusa. The early medieval City State had a population of Romans and Latinized Illyrians, who spoke [[Latin]]. With time it evolved into the Dalmatian language, a now extinct Romance language. The Ragusan Dalmatian language disappeared in the 17th century. For centuries Ragusa, was an Italian-City State.  

Refugees from Roman Epidaurus in the 7th century turned it into a fortified city. Over the centuries, it became a City State importantly called Ragusa. Later it became a Republic (1358), also importantly called Republic of Ragusa. The early medieval City State had a population of Romans and Latinized Illyrians, who spoke [[Latin]]. With time it evolved into the Dalmatian language (Ragusan Dalmatian <ref>'''Encyclopedia Britannica''' on Vegliot: {{quote|

</ref>), a now extinct Romance language. The Ragusan Dalmatian language disappeared in the 17th century. For centuries Ragusa, was an Italian-City State.  

In the 16th and 17th century <ref>'''Note''': According to Francesco Maria Appendini (Italian scholar 1768–1837) the Slavic language already started to be spoken in area in the 13th century. The Charter of Ban Kulin (1189) mentions ''Dubrovьcane'', meaning people from Dubrovnik (Ragusa)</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA299&dq=Ottoman+Diplomacy+When+Ethnicity+did+not+Matter+in+the+Balkans&hl=en&ei=YjzmTa-sF4a6vQOe5_nnCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false  When Ethnicity did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine (p229)

In the 16th and 17th century <ref>'''Note''': According to Francesco Maria Appendini (Italian scholar 1768–1837) the Slavic language already started to be spoken in area in the 13th century. The Charter of Ban Kulin (1189) mentions ''Dubrovьcane'', meaning people from Dubrovnik (Ragusa)</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA299&dq=Ottoman+Diplomacy+When+Ethnicity+did+not+Matter+in+the+Balkans&hl=en&ei=YjzmTa-sF4a6vQOe5_nnCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false  When Ethnicity did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine (p229)

* "Discussions between Ottoman officials (many of whom were of Slavic origin) and Ragusan envoys were frequently carried out in “our language” (proto- Serbo- Croatian), and both sides (these particular Ottomans and the Ragusan diplomats)" Editors Note: This event as described by John Van Antwerp Fine is from 1608.</ref> its ethnic population changed dramatically mainly due to various historical events in Europe (as the Ottoman Empire advanced into Europe migrations from the east started i.e new Croatians, Serbs, Albanians etc,). From the west Spanish Jews (Spanish-Jews were expelled in 1493 from Spain). The Republic became a hub of '''multi-ethnic''' communities. The most numerous of these were the Slavs (according to Francesco Maria Appendini, Slavic was being spoken in Ragusa already in the 13th century). The peoples of the Republic started to merge (including mixed marriages). Additionally the Ragusan-Slavic population were Romanised, meaning they adopted Latin Mediterranean culture. A form of [[Italian language|Italian]] was spoken in the Republic, which was heavily influenced by '''Venetian'''. Books were written in Latin and Italian. Some Ragusans started to write in a Slavic language. Two languages Italian and Slavic (which at times overlapped) became the norm in the Republic.

* "Discussions between Ottoman officials (many of whom were of Slavic origin) and Ragusan envoys were frequently carried out in “our language” (proto- Serbo- Croatian), and both sides (these particular Ottomans and the Ragusan diplomats)" Editors Note: This event as described by John Van Antwerp Fine is from 1608.</ref> its ethnic population changed dramatically mainly due to various historical events in Europe (as the Ottoman Empire advanced into Europe migrations from the east started (i.e new Croatians, Serbs, Albanians etc,). From the west Spanish Jews (Spanish-Jews were expelled in 1493 from Spain). The Republic became a hub of '''multi-ethnic''' communities. The most numerous of these were the Slavs (according to Francesco Maria Appendini, Slavic was being spoken in Ragusa already in the 13th century). The peoples of the Republic started to merge (including mixed marriages). Additionally the Ragusan-Slavic population were Romanised, meaning they adopted Latin Mediterranean culture. A form of [[Italian language|Italian]] was spoken in the Republic, which was heavily influenced by '''Venetian'''. Books were written in Latin and Italian. Some Ragusans started to write in a Slavic language. Two languages Italian and Slavic (which at times overlapped) became the norm in the Republic.

[[File:800px-Dubrovnik 042.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Dubrovnik once the capital of the Republic of Ragusa now within todays modern [[Croatia]]. The ''Republic'' in the past was a hub of multi-ethnic communities.]]

[[File:800px-Dubrovnik 042.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Dubrovnik once the capital of the Republic of Ragusa now within todays modern [[Croatia]]. The ''Republic'' in the past was a hub of multi-ethnic communities.]]