Changes

'Venetian Dalmatia', as it was called by the Venitians, enjoyed periods of economic prosperity with the development of arts and culture. Dalmatia was greatly influenced by the northern Italian Renaissance and many buildings, churches and cathedrals were constructed in those years, from Zadar and Split to Sibenik (Sebenico) and Dubrovnik.  

'Venetian Dalmatia', as it was called by the Venitians, enjoyed periods of economic prosperity with the development of arts and culture. Dalmatia was greatly influenced by the northern Italian Renaissance and many buildings, churches and cathedrals were constructed in those years, from Zadar and Split to Sibenik (Sebenico) and Dubrovnik.  

'''Zara''' (Modern: Zadar) was the capital of Venetian Dalmatia. During these centuries, the Italian Venetian language became the "lingua franca" of all Dalmatia, assimilating the Dalmatian language of the Romanised Illyrians and influencing partially the coastal Croatian language (Chakavian).

'''Zara''' (modern: Zadar) was the capital of Venetian Dalmatia. During these centuries, the Italian Venetian language became the "lingua franca" of all Dalmatia, assimilating the Dalmatian language of the Romanised Illyrians and influencing partially the coastal Croatian language (Chakavian).

It is also important to mention migrations from the east, as the Ottoman Empire advanced into Europe <ref>With the Serbian forces being annihilated in the ''Battle of Kosovo'' in 1389 a migration of peoples stated to migrant west ward. Dalmatia started acquire new peoples in its region (i.e. Croatians, Serbs & Albanians). </ref>. This greatly changed the ethnic mix in the region.  Large groups of peoples stated to migrate westward. Venetian Dalmatia started to acquire new people in its region (i.e., Eastern Croatians, Albanians, Montenegrins, Serbs & others). Wars with the Ottoman's and other conflicts were all part of Venetian Dalmatia's history as well as internal strife within the province (i.e.Hvar Rebellion). <ref>The Hvar Rebellion (1510 - 1514)  was an uprising of the people and citizens of the Venetian Dalmatia island of Hvar (Lesina) against the island's nobility and their Venetian masters.</ref> Looking back through its past, Dalmatia presents it self as a region of Europe with a very multicultural and multiethnic history.<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kMXURN7sxh4C&pg=PA8&dq=The+Italians+of+Dalmatia:+Middle+ages+population+merge+with+the+Italian+Slavic++Dalmatia&hl=en&ei=WVuQTby_GdO8cdCT3ZAK&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false The Italians of Dalmatia:] From Italian Unification to World War One by Luciano Monzali (p8)</ref>

It is also important to mention migrations from the east, as the Ottoman Empire advanced into Europe <ref>With the Serbian forces being annihilated in the ''Battle of Kosovo'' in 1389 a migration of peoples stated to migrant west ward. Dalmatia started acquire new peoples in its region (i.e. Croatians, Serbs & Albanians). </ref>. This greatly changed the ethnic mix in the region.  Large groups of peoples stated to migrate westward. Venetian Dalmatia started to acquire new people in its region (i.e., Eastern Croatians, Albanians, Montenegrins, Serbs & others). Wars with the Ottoman's and other conflicts were all part of Venetian Dalmatia's history as well as internal strife within the province (i.e.Hvar Rebellion). <ref>The Hvar Rebellion (1510 - 1514)  was an uprising of the people and citizens of the Venetian Dalmatia island of Hvar (Lesina) against the island's nobility and their Venetian masters.</ref> Looking back through its past, Dalmatia presents it self as a region of Europe with a very multicultural and multiethnic history.<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kMXURN7sxh4C&pg=PA8&dq=The+Italians+of+Dalmatia:+Middle+ages+population+merge+with+the+Italian+Slavic++Dalmatia&hl=en&ei=WVuQTby_GdO8cdCT3ZAK&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false The Italians of Dalmatia:] From Italian Unification to World War One by Luciano Monzali (p8)</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>  

* "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.  

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 Croatian 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.  

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.