Changes

===Romanized Slavs===

===Romanized Slavs===

The new population of Slavs invaded and then probably settled in the centre of the island. They spoke old Slavic '''Chakavian''' which is the language of the old medieval Croatian Dukes (Latin: "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit" c. 880 AD). 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 Slavs invaded and then probably settled in the centre of the island. They spoke old Slavic '''Chakavian''' which is the language of the old medieval Croatian Dukes (Latin: "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit" c. 880 AD). 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]]Dalmatian Romans<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. 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 Narantani, the Slavic pirates lost control of the island, Dalmatian Romans<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:

* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6UbOtJcF8rQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Becoming+Slav,+Becoming+Croat:+Identity+Transformations+in+Post-Roman+and+Early+Medieval+Dalmatia&hl=en&ei=MLFCTbjaBYaecLnwkf4N&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat:] Identity Transformations in Post-Roman and and Early Medieval Dalmatia by Danijel Dzino

* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6UbOtJcF8rQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Becoming+Slav,+Becoming+Croat:+Identity+Transformations+in+Post-Roman+and+Early+Medieval+Dalmatia&hl=en&ei=MLFCTbjaBYaecLnwkf4N&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat:] Identity Transformations in Post-Roman and and Early Medieval Dalmatia by Danijel Dzino

There is archaeological evidence from '''16th century''' where the Croatian identity was starting to be used. Stone writings in Zavalatica are dedicated to events from 889 AD. It describes a clash between the Slavic population and the Venetian army. Marinko Gjivoje wrote about the find in 1972. The stone writings use: ''Hrvat Dalmatinac'' in its writings. ''Hrvat'' means Croat in Croatian.<ref>[http://www.korcula.net/history/mmarelic/script.htm History-Korcula.net] Marko Marelic-S. Francisco-USA</ref>

There is archaeological evidence from '''16th century''' where the Croatian identity was starting to be used. Stone writings in Zavalatica are dedicated to events from 889 AD. It describes a clash between the Slavic population and the Venetian army. Marinko Gjivoje wrote about the find in 1972. The stone writings use: ''Hrvat Dalmatinac'' in its writings. ''Hrvat'' means Croat in Croatian.<ref>[http://www.korcula.net/history/mmarelic/script.htm History-Korcula.net] Marko Marelic-S. Francisco-USA</ref>

==Korcula Originally a Roman Town==

==Korcula Originally a Roman Town==

In this editors opinion to-days Korčula was originally a Roman town. It was built in the early middle ages as a fortification against invading tribes. Later, in the middle ages it became a dual Latin (Romance) and Slavic town. With the arrival of Venetians it continued to evolve as such until the end of the Republic itself 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. Today we have surnames on the island that are not of Slavic origin, for example:

In this editors opinion to-days Korčula was originally a Roman town. It was built in the early middle ages as a fortification against invading tribes. Later, in the middle ages it became a dual Latin (Romance) and Slavic town. With the arrival of Venetians it continued to evolve as such until the end of the Republic itself 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. Today we have surnames on the island that are not of Slavic origin, for example: