Refugees from Roman Epidaurus in the 7th century turned it into a fortified city. Over the centuries, it became a City State (called Ragusa), later it became a Republic (1358). The early medieval City State had a population of Romans and Latinized Illyrians, who spoke [[Latin]]. With time, it evolved into the Dalmatian language a now extinct Romance language. The Ragusan Dalmatian language disappeared in the 17th century. | Refugees from Roman Epidaurus in the 7th century turned it into a fortified city. Over the centuries, it became a City State (called Ragusa), later it became a Republic (1358). The early medieval City State had a population of Romans and Latinized Illyrians, who spoke [[Latin]]. With time, it evolved into the Dalmatian language a now extinct Romance language. The Ragusan Dalmatian language disappeared in the 17th century. |