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==Korcula Originally a 'Dalmatian Latin' (Roman) Town==

==Korcula Originally a 'Dalmatian Latin' (Roman) Town==

In this editors opinion to-days Korčula started its life originally as a '''Dalmatian Latin''' (Roman) town - Corcyra. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, a town was built in the early middle ages as a fortification against invading tribes (the question is then what happened to the town during the occupation of the Narentines Slavs?).  From 11th century  it became a dual Latin (Romance) and Slavic town. <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=p3oGybOY1w4C&pg=PA103&dq=korcula+Venice++Slavs&hl=en&ei=oMBjTJPQBoicvgPkpPCeCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CE4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=korcula%20Venice%20%20Slavs&f=false When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p103)</ref><ref>Smiciklas, ''CD'' V, (p237); N. Klaic, ''Povijest Hrvata u Razvijenom'', (p130): ''"In 1262 the Venetian praised the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula for submitting to the prince Venice had sent."''

In this editors opinion to-days Korčula started its life originally as a '''Dalmatian Latin''' (Roman) town - Corcyra. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, a town was built in the early middle ages as a fortification against invading tribes.  From 11th century  it became a dual Latin (Romance) and Slavic town. <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=p3oGybOY1w4C&pg=PA103&dq=korcula+Venice++Slavs&hl=en&ei=oMBjTJPQBoicvgPkpPCeCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CE4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=korcula%20Venice%20%20Slavs&f=false When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p103)</ref><ref>Smiciklas, ''CD'' V, (p237); N. Klaic, ''Povijest Hrvata u Razvijenom'', (p130): ''"In 1262 the Venetian praised the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula for submitting to the prince Venice had sent."''

'''Note''': What we can '''safely assume''' is that from the 13th century onwards there were '''two ethnic''' communities living on the island in the middle ages, one being descendants of the Roman Empire and the other being of Slavic descent. </ref> The old town of Korčula continued to evolve as such until the end of the Republic in 1797. The town's old centre is of Venetian construction <ref> Encyclopaedia Britannica (publ. 1911)</ref> and many have pointed out its similarities to Venetian architecture.  

'''Note''': What we can '''safely assume''' is that from the 13th century onwards there were '''two ethnic''' communities living on the island in the middle ages, one being descendants of the Roman Empire and the other being of Slavic descent. </ref> The old town of Korčula continued to evolve as such until the end of the Republic in 1797. The town's old centre is of Venetian construction <ref> Encyclopaedia Britannica (publ. 1911)</ref> and many have pointed out its similarities to Venetian architecture.  

Two languages, the Romance Latin language called ''Dalmatian'' and the old Slavic Chakavian language became the norm on the island. With time these languages started to overlap. The written language was Latin. The fact that Slavs from the then neighbouring [[Directory:Croatia|Kingdom of Croatia]] also spoke old Croatian ''Slavic'' '''Chakavian''' indicates that this group of Slavs once came from the same ''or'' closely related tribal group.

Two languages, the Romance Latin language called ''Dalmatian'' and the old Slavic Chakavian language became the norm on the island. With time these languages started to overlap. The written language was Latin. The fact that Slavs from the then neighbouring [[Directory:Croatia|Kingdom of Croatia]] also spoke old Croatian '''Chakavian''' indicates that this group of Slavs once came from the same ''or'' closely related tribal group.

===Latins Romanized the Slavs===

===Latins Romanized the Slavs===

The new population of Narentines Slavs that invaded and then probably settled in the centre of the island. 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.

The new population of Narentines Slavs invaded and then probably settled in the centre of the island. 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]] After the Narentines, the Slavic pirates lost control of the island, Dalmatian Latins <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.</ref> and the Republic of Venice brought ''Mediterranean cultural'' to the Slavs who remained on the island. 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]] After the Narentines, the Slavic pirates lost control of the island, Dalmatian Latins <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.</ref> and the Republic of Venice brought ''Mediterranean cultural'' to the Slavs who remained on the island. 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:

If the translation of the [[Defence of Korcula|Defence of Korčula]] 
from Ottoman Turkish attack in 1571, originally written by Antun (Antonio) Rozanovic is ''untainted'', we can see that the majority of the defenders of the island were by 1571 of Slavic decent. If we use this as a reference then from the mid 16th century onwards the majority of Korčula's population was indeed of Slavic origins.

If the translation of the [[Defence of Korcula|Defence of Korčula]] 
from Ottoman Turkish attack in 1571, originally written by Antun (Antonio) Rozanovic is ''untainted'', we can see that the majority of the defenders of the island were by 1571 of Slavic decent. If we use this as a reference then from the mid 16th century onwards the majority of Korčula's population was indeed of Slavic origins.

== Summary - Historic Classifies of Korcula==

== Summary - History of Korcula ==

* The indigenous population of Korčula were Mesolithic and Neolithic peoples. Archaeological evidence has been found at ''Jakas Cave'' near the village of Žrnovo and on the west end of the island in a cave called Vela Spila. <ref>[http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/26657 University of Zagreb:] Faculty of Philosophy

* The indigenous population of Korčula were Mesolithic and Neolithic peoples. Archaeological evidence has been found at ''Jakas Cave'' near the village of Žrnovo and on the west end of the island in a cave called Vela Spila. <ref>[http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/26657 University of Zagreb:] Faculty of Philosophy

* Some of the finds from Vela Spila (Big Cave) are on display at the '''University of Zagreb''' and the ''Center for Culture'' in [http://www.apartments-vela-luka.com/vela-spila.asp Vela Luka.]</ref>  

* Some of the finds from Vela Spila (Big Cave) are on display at the '''University of Zagreb''' and the ''Center for Culture'' in [http://www.apartments-vela-luka.com/vela-spila.asp Vela Luka.]</ref>