Changes

* "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>  

* "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>  

In the 16th and 17th century a large proportion of 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), plus the devastating inpact of the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake (around 5,000 people were killed). The Republic became a hub of '''multi-ethnic''' communities. The most numerous of these were the Slavs. 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. The Ragusan Senate was so concerned with the Slav language being so present in the Republic that it decided that all debates had to be held in ancient Ragusan language and the use of the Slav was forbidden.  

In the 16th and 17th century a large proportion of 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, Hercegovci, Serbs, Albanians etc,). From the west Spanish Jews (Spanish-Jews were expelled in 1493 from Spain), plus the devastating inpact of the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake (around 5,000 people were killed). The Republic became a hub of '''multi-ethnic''' communities. The most numerous of these were the Slavs. 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. The Ragusan Senate was so concerned with the Slav language being so present in the Republic that it decided that all debates had to be held in ancient Ragusan language and the use of the Slav was forbidden.  

[[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.]]