Changes

From a Greco-Roman perspective they were all identified as Slavs. Most probably based on linguistic-language classification. The Slavs found themselves living in a '''medieval multi-ethnic''' region:  Roman Latin-Illyrian population as well as Liburnians, Greeks, Guduscani <ref>[http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/guduscani self.gutenberg.org:] ''"It has been assumed, that they were part of the Vandals, Goths or Lombards."'' </ref>, Ostrogoths and others. It has been mention that there were other ethnic groups within the Slavic tribes themselves. This could explain the Persian-Sarmatian connection.   

From a Greco-Roman perspective they were all identified as Slavs. Most probably based on linguistic-language classification. The Slavs found themselves living in a '''medieval multi-ethnic''' region:  Roman Latin-Illyrian population as well as Liburnians, Greeks, Guduscani <ref>[http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/guduscani self.gutenberg.org:] ''"It has been assumed, that they were part of the Vandals, Goths or Lombards."'' </ref>, Ostrogoths and others. It has been mention that there were other ethnic groups within the Slavic tribes themselves. This could explain the Persian-Sarmatian connection.   

It was the most powerful chieftains (the main political players) who left a '''mark''' on history. Taking this into account, over a period of time in the middle ages we have new '''political identities''' of Southern Slavs emerging. Among these were Croatians, Narentines, Bulgarians<ref>Bulgarians also have a strong historic association with Turkic semi-nomadic tribes. It has been written that in early medieval times the Bulgar elite spoke a language that was a member of the Turkic language group. </ref>, Bosnians, Serbs (Raška) etc.  

It was the most powerful chieftains (the main political players) who left a '''mark''' on history. Taking this into account, over a period of time in the middle ages we have new '''political identities''' of Southern Slavs emerging (regionally based or names brought with them). Among these were Croatians, Narentines, Bulgarians<ref>Bulgarians also have a strong historic association with Turkic semi-nomadic tribes. It has been written that in early medieval times the Bulgar elite spoke a language that was a member of the Turkic language group. </ref>, Bosnians, Serbs (Raška) etc.  

It is true that some of the origins of some of these words denoting southern slavic groups (i.e. Harvat, Horvat) can be traced further back in history. Some have wrongly associated the etymology of these words to proclaim ethnicities or national identities back deep into the past. To my understanding there is no real hard historic proof that these ethnic identities existed (i.e. Harvat, Horvat).  

It is true that some of the origins of some of these words denoting southern slavic groups (i.e. Harvat, Horvat) can be traced further back in history. Some have wrongly associated the etymology of these words to proclaim ethnicities or national identities back deep into the past. To my understanding there is no real hard historic proof that these ethnic identities existed (i.e. Harvat, Horvat).  

The old language groups which have become diluted over time and are slowly becoming extinct ('''now referred''' to as dialects) may reflect some of the many original Slavic tribes who invaded Roman Dalmatia.  

The old language groups which have become diluted over time and are slowly becoming extinct ('''now referred''' to as dialects) may reflect some of the many original Slavic tribes who invaded Roman Dalmatia.  

It is important to stress that these dialects in early medieval time could have been seen as languages (and separate tribes,but was not important enough to report especially by the Greco-Roman-Frankish Community). Current main dialect groups within modern Croatia are:

It is important to stress that these dialects in early medieval time could have been seen as languages (and separate tribes, but was not important enough to report especially by the Greco-Roman-Frankish Community). Current main dialect groups within modern Croatia are:

* Chakavian dialect

* Chakavian dialect

* Kajkavian dialect

* Kajkavian dialect

In this editors opinion, the answer is '''yes''' -  they were very seriously influenced by the politics of the Pan-Slavic movement? The Pan slavic movement was heavily influenced by '''European Imperialism'''  with an overriding attitude directed towards creating a unifying language for a state that negated the history of the various southern slavic and other language bases that were part of the Western Balkans. With this in mind the linguist of the day created a construct Serbo-Croatian language (''or'' Croatian-Serbo) with a Neo-Shtokavian base.  

In this editors opinion, the answer is '''yes''' -  they were very seriously influenced by the politics of the Pan-Slavic movement? The Pan slavic movement was heavily influenced by '''European Imperialism'''  with an overriding attitude directed towards creating a unifying language for a state that negated the history of the various southern slavic and other language bases that were part of the Western Balkans. With this in mind the linguist of the day created a construct Serbo-Croatian language (''or'' Croatian-Serbo) with a Neo-Shtokavian base.  

In 1918 a construct Serbo-Croatian (Neo Shtokavian) language was introduced by government policy as the main language to be used within the created state of Yugoslavia (a mini version Pan-Slavic state).  Before Yugoslavia was established the policy had already started to be implemented by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the west-end of the Balkans and it was also being implemented in the east, in the Kingdom of Serbia.

In 1918 a construct Neo Shtokavian (Serbo-Croatian) language was introduced by government policy as the main language to be used within the created state of Yugoslavia (a mini version Pan-Slavic state).  Before Yugoslavia was established the policy had already started to be implemented by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the west-end of the Balkans and it was also being implemented in the east, in the Kingdom of Serbia.

   

   

There appears to be a common misconception in the former Yugoslavian regions that if you are taught and you learn to speak the standardised Serbo-Croatian language (Neo Shtokavian) that you have historical connections to a particular ethnic group. This is not necessarily factual as many other ethnic groups, with various ethnic backgrounds, were caught up in this system of standardisation. These people were being forced to speak a ''common  standardised language'' (Serbo-Croatian<ref>[//books.google.com.au/books?id=_lNjHgr3QioC&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=Croatian+Identity&source=bl&ots=fD7ElNqJfQ&sig=b_VK71LL4FYXG7LBjfPVUCSVC-E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eSClVOSxLuLWmAW484HYDQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Croatian%20Identity&f=false Language and Identity in the Balkans:] Serbo-Croatian and Its Disintegration ... By Robert D. Greenberg</ref>, Neo Shtokavian). This does not accurately reflect the actual ancestry and ethnic history of the speaker (i.e is a Welshman a Englishman now that he can speak English?).  

There appears to be a common misconception in the former Yugoslavian regions that if you are taught and you learn to speak the standardised Serbo-Croatian language (Neo Shtokavian) that you have historical connections to a particular ethnic group. This is not necessarily factual as many other ethnic groups, with various ethnic backgrounds, were caught up in this system of standardisation. These people were being forced to speak a ''common  standardised language'' (Serbo-Croatian<ref>[//books.google.com.au/books?id=_lNjHgr3QioC&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=Croatian+Identity&source=bl&ots=fD7ElNqJfQ&sig=b_VK71LL4FYXG7LBjfPVUCSVC-E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eSClVOSxLuLWmAW484HYDQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Croatian%20Identity&f=false Language and Identity in the Balkans:] Serbo-Croatian and Its Disintegration ... By Robert D. Greenberg</ref>, Neo Shtokavian). This does not accurately reflect the actual ancestry and ethnic history of the speaker (i.e is a Welshman a Englishman now that he can speak English?).