Changes

This part of Korcula's (in Croatian the c in Korcula is pronounced ''ch'' and is written "'''č'''") history is very unclear. Nikola Ostojic a 19th century Historian from the island of Korčula describes the actual invasion of the Narantani (modern: Neretvani Slavs) in his [[Directory:Korcula History|book]] ''"Historical Compendium of the Island of Korcula"'' but without a primary historical source which can not be used. The book was written in 1858.

This part of Korcula's (in Croatian the c in Korcula is pronounced ''ch'' and is written "'''č'''") history is very unclear. Nikola Ostojic a 19th century Historian from the island of Korčula describes the actual invasion of the Narantani (modern: Neretvani Slavs) in his [[Directory:Korcula History|book]] ''"Historical Compendium of the Island of Korcula"'' but without a primary historical source which can not be used. The book was written in 1858.

To this editor's knowledge there are no existing primary historical sources that actually described the '''event''' of [[Directory:Croatia|Croatian Slavs]] invading and settling the island of Korčula in the middle ages. It was the ''Republic of Venice'' who first mentions Slavic peoples (Narrentanos Sclavos<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA39&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Narrentanos%20Sclavos&f=false When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p39)</ref>) and Korcula. In the 9th century the Republic of Venice recorded that Narantani, who are referred to in modern times as mainly Neretva pirates (Neretvani), started to disrupt Venice's trade with the east (Levant). Later it was established that they had strategically secured the delta of the river Neretva and some of the islands in southern Dalmatia. Amongst these was the island of Korčula. It took many decades before Venice could minimise the threat from the Narantani (Slavic pirates). It was doge Pietro II Orseolo who took the island for the Republic of Venice in the year 1000.<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=B7gzrJDlUv8C&pg=PA60&dq=Pietro+II+Orseolo+Curzola&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DU7dUKKeFYiPkwW02oGoAQ&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Pietro%20II%20Orseolo%20Curzola&f=false Venice Triumphant:] The Horizons of a Myth by Elisabeth Crouzet-Pavan (p60)</ref> I guess, it is assumed that a group of Slavs remained on the island. In 1262 the Venetians did mention the Slavs and '''Latins''' on the island of Korčula. <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=p3oGybOY1w4C&pg=PA103&dq=korcula+Venice++Slavs&hl=en&ei=oMBjTJPQBoicvgPkpPCeCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CE4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=korcula%20Venice%20%20Slavs&f=false When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p103)</ref>

To this editor's knowledge there are no existing primary historical sources that actually described the '''event''' of [[Directory:Croatia|Croatian Slavs]] <ref>'''Note''': The first primary source (factual-that its authenticity isn't disputed) to mention the Croatian-Hrvat identity in the Balkans was '''Duke Branimir''' (Latin:'' "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit"''  c. 880 AD). Branimir was a Slav from the Dalmatian Hinterland.</ref> invading and settling the island of Korčula in the middle ages. It was the ''Republic of Venice'' who first mentions Slavic peoples (Narrentanos Sclavos<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA39&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Narrentanos%20Sclavos&f=false When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p39)</ref>) and Korcula. In the 9th century the Republic of Venice recorded that Narantani, who are referred to in modern times as mainly Neretva pirates (Neretvani), started to disrupt Venice's trade with the east (Levant). Later it was established that they had strategically secured the delta of the river Neretva and some of the islands in southern Dalmatia. Amongst these was the island of Korčula. It took many decades before Venice could minimise the threat from the Narantani (Slavic pirates). It was doge Pietro II Orseolo who took the island for the Republic of Venice in the year 1000.<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=B7gzrJDlUv8C&pg=PA60&dq=Pietro+II+Orseolo+Curzola&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DU7dUKKeFYiPkwW02oGoAQ&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Pietro%20II%20Orseolo%20Curzola&f=false Venice Triumphant:] The Horizons of a Myth by Elisabeth Crouzet-Pavan (p60)</ref> I guess, it is assumed that a group of Slavs remained on the island. In 1262 the Venetians did mention the Slavs and '''Latins''' on the island of Korčula. <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=p3oGybOY1w4C&pg=PA103&dq=korcula+Venice++Slavs&hl=en&ei=oMBjTJPQBoicvgPkpPCeCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CE4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=korcula%20Venice%20%20Slavs&f=false When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p103)</ref>

=== Old Roman Cities of Dalmatia ===

=== Old Roman Cities of Dalmatia ===

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 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. The first primary source (factual-that its authenticity isn't disputed) to mention the Croatian-Hrvat identity in the Balkans was '''Duke Branimir''' (Latin:'' "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit"''  c. 880 AD). Branimir was a Slav from Dalmatia.</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]]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).

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