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. John Van Antwerp Fine work points out the arrival of Shtokavian Slavic (Hercegovci) speakers to the Republic. Shtokavian Slavic speakers in the end dominated the Slavic speakers within the Republic. </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. John Van Antwerp Fine work points out the arrival of Shtokavian Slavic (Hercegovci) speakers to the Republic. Shtokavian Slavic speakers in the end dominated the Slavic speakers within the Republic. </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 Eastern 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 the use of the Slavic (in the senate) 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 Eastern 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.  

 

With time 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 the use of the Slavic (in the senate) 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.]]

During the '''Napoleonic Wars''' the 'Republic of Ragusa' ceased to be and It became part of the French Empire in 1808.  In '''1815''' it was made a part of the Habsburg Empire (Austrian Empire later renamed the Austro-Hungarian Empire). The former Republic was within the province of the Kingdom of Dalmatia and under [[Austria|Austrian]] rule. In essence the Republic's borders collapsed and was occupied. With the opening up of the Republic's borders, peoples who were once foreigners (''or'' even enemies), were now citizens of the Habsburg Empire.  

During the '''Napoleonic Wars''' the 'Republic of Ragusa' ceased to be and It became part of the French Empire in '''1808'''.  In 1815 it was made a part of the Habsburg Empire (Austrian Empire later renamed the Austro-Hungarian Empire). The former Republic was within the province of the Kingdom of Dalmatia and under [[Austria|Austrian]] rule. In essence the Republic's borders collapsed and was occupied. With the opening up of the Republic's borders, peoples who were once foreigners (''or'' even enemies), were now citizens of the Habsburg Empire.  

The political situation started to change and this was in part due to the ''nationalistic movements'' of the 19th century. In the neighbouring '''Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia''' a [[Croatia|Croatian]] nationalistic movement was established and alongside that, within the Balkan region a Pan-Slavic movement was growing (the beginnings of the ill fated Yugoslavia). These political on goings started to be felt in the Kingdom of Dalmatia. The Austrians in the 1860s started to introduce within the Kingdom of Dalmatia a standardised Croatian language originally referred to as '''Illirski'''.<ref> Sir John Gardner Wilkinson (an 19 century [[United Kingdom|English]] historian. October 5, 1797 – October 29, 1875)  

The political situation started to change and this was in part due to the ''nationalistic movements'' of the 19th century. In the neighbouring '''Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia''' a [[Croatia|Croatian]] nationalistic movement was established and alongside that, within the Balkan region a Pan-Slavic movement was growing (the beginnings of the ill fated Yugoslavia). These political on goings started to be felt in the Kingdom of Dalmatia. The Austrians in the 1860s started to introduce within the Kingdom of Dalmatia a standardised Croatian language originally referred to as '''Illirski'''.<ref> Sir John Gardner Wilkinson (an 19 century [[United Kingdom|English]] historian. October 5, 1797 – October 29, 1875)