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''The first evidence of the Croat name, dux/rex Croatorum, does not appear until the ninth century. The Charter of Duke Trpimir is indeed the oldest text that mentions the Croat name, dux Chroatorum but its authenticity is disputed for good reason. The earliest certain evidence is the title dux Cruatorum from duke Branimir's inscription (c. 880), so that before this date we cannot assume with certainty that the Croat identity existed at all.'' <ref>[http://mq.academia.edu/DanijelDzino/Papers/163667/Becoming_Slav_Becoming_Croat_New_approaches_in_research_of_identities_in_post-Roman_Illyricum Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat: New approaches in research of identities in post-Roman Illyricum] by Danijel Dzino</ref>}}

''The first evidence of the Croat name, dux/rex Croatorum, does not appear until the ninth century. The Charter of Duke Trpimir is indeed the oldest text that mentions the Croat name, dux Chroatorum but its authenticity is disputed for good reason. The earliest certain evidence is the title dux Cruatorum from duke Branimir's inscription (c. 880), so that before this date we cannot assume with certainty that the Croat identity existed at all.'' <ref>[http://mq.academia.edu/DanijelDzino/Papers/163667/Becoming_Slav_Becoming_Croat_New_approaches_in_research_of_identities_in_post-Roman_Illyricum Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat: New approaches in research of identities in post-Roman Illyricum] by Danijel Dzino</ref>}}

==The Terms Slav and Croatian==

==The Terms Slav and Croatian==

The term '''Slav''' was first used by the Byzantine's-Eastern Roman Empire (i.e. Procopius-Byzantine scholar, Jordanes- 6th century Roman bureaucrat) and was recorded in the 6th century (cia. 550) in Greek (Σκλαβῖνοι-Sklabenoi or sklaboi). Later in Latin, Sklabenoi was written Sclaveni. Ancient Greek-Roman communities prior to that refer to the early Slavic peoples as Veneti and Antes (from 2nd century onwards). Raid activity by various Slavic tribes within old Roman Dalmatia started in the 6th century.

The term '''Slav''' was first used by the Byzantine's-Eastern Roman Empire (i.e. Procopius-Byzantine scholar, Jordanes- 6th century Roman bureaucrat) and was recorded in the 6th century (cia. 550) in Greek (Σκλαβῖνοι-Sklabenoi or sklaboi). Later in Latin, Sklabenoi was written Sclaveni. Ancient Greek-Roman communities also referred to the early Slavic peoples as Veneti and Antes. Raid activity by various Slavic tribes within old Roman Dalmatia started in the 6th century.

'''Hrvat''' is a word of Sarmatian (Persian) origins. <ref>Note: The Sarmatian tribes have been referred to as being Persian in origin (modern: ''Iranian people'').</ref>  In 1853 a Russian archaeologist Pavel Mikhailovich Leontjev discovered the Tanais Tablets. The Tanais Tablets mention three men: Horoúathos, Horoáthos, and Horóathos (Χορούαθ[ος], Χοροάθος, Χορόαθος). They are written in [[Greece|Greek]] and are from the 3rd century AD from the city of Tanais, today's Azov, Russia.  At that time the region had mainly a mix of Greek - Sarmatian population.

'''Hrvat''' is a word of Sarmatian (Persian) origins. <ref>Note: The Sarmatian tribes have been referred to as being Persian in origin (modern: ''Iranian people'').</ref>  In 1853 a Russian archaeologist Pavel Mikhailovich Leontjev discovered the Tanais Tablets. The Tanais Tablets mention three men: Horoúathos, Horoáthos, and Horóathos (Χορούαθ[ος], Χοροάθος, Χορόαθος). They are written in [[Greece|Greek]] and are from the 3rd century AD from the city of Tanais, today's Azov, Russia.  At that time the region had mainly a mix of Greek - Sarmatian population.

== Settlement of the Slavs in Roman Dalmatia ==

== Settlement of the Slavs in Roman Dalmatia ==

Slavic tribes invaded the region of [[Dalmatian Italians#Roman Dalmatia |Roman Dalmatia]] in the early Middle Ages. Contemporary historian Danijel Dzino states that the 19 century theories of mass movements of people into the old Roman Province of Dalmatia are '''questionable'''. Modern Archaeological and Scholarly research seems to be saying that we are looking at much smaller groups of Slavs invading the region. According to historians ''Florin Curta'' and Danijel Dzino the term Slavs was first used by outside observers of the day (Greco-Roman) to describe the newcomers. The Slavs used the term to describe themselves at a later stage. Thus began the '''construct''' identity of the new arrivals. Later the Slavic peoples started to identify themselves and separated (or were separated by others) into different groups. There was also a good deal of interaction between the groups as shown by DNA studies.

Slavic tribes invaded the region of [[Dalmatian Italians#Roman Dalmatia |Roman Dalmatia]] in the early Middle Ages. Contemporary historian Danijel Dzino states that the 19 century theories of mass movements of people into the old Roman Province of Dalmatia are '''questionable'''. Modern Archaeological and Scholarly research seems to be saying that we are looking at much smaller groups of Slavs invading the region. According to historians ''Florin Curta'' and Danijel Dzino the term Slavs was first used by outside observers of the day (Greco-Roman) to describe the newcomers. The Slavs used the term to describe themselves '''at a later stage'''. Thus began the '''construct''' identity of the new arrivals. Later the Slavic peoples started to identify themselves and separated (or were separated by others) into different groups. There was also a good deal of interaction between the groups as shown by DNA studies.

[[File:800px-Bascanska ploca.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Baska tablet 1100 AD from Baska, on the island of Krk-[[Croatia]].]]

[[File:800px-Bascanska ploca.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Baska tablet 1100 AD from Baska, on the island of Krk-[[Croatia]].]]

The issue of dates is an interesting one. Historians from the 18th and 19th century place the ''settlement'' of the Slavs into the Western Balkans in the 7th century but the more modern research undertaken by scholars and archaeologists<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6UbOtJcF8rQC&pg=PA52&dq=croatian+graves+medieval+dalmatian+dating&hl=en&ei=LA6HTan-IsGHcYbf3Y4D&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat:] Identity Transformations in Post-Roman and Early Medieval Dalmatia by Danijel Dzino (p52).</ref> cannot confirm this. The settlement of the Slavs in small groups has now been thought to be more in the region of the 8th century .<ref>Historians of this school of thought are D. Dzino, L.Margetic, Ancic, Rapanic and V.Sokol.</ref> The early sources must have reflected the '''raid''' and mercenary activity of the Slavic tribes within Roman Dalmatia. Also there are no '''contemporary''' written records about the invasion/migration/settlement, about the events as a whole ''and'' the area itself.

The issue of dates is an interesting one. Historians from the 18th and 19th century place the ''settlement'' of the Slavs into the Western Balkans in the 7th century but the more modern research undertaken by scholars and archaeologists<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6UbOtJcF8rQC&pg=PA52&dq=croatian+graves+medieval+dalmatian+dating&hl=en&ei=LA6HTan-IsGHcYbf3Y4D&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat:] Identity Transformations in Post-Roman and Early Medieval Dalmatia by Danijel Dzino (p52).</ref> cannot confirm this. The settlement of the Slavs in small groups has now been thought to be more in the region of the 8th century .<ref>Historians of this school of thought are D. Dzino, L.Margetic, Ancic, Rapanic and V.Sokol.</ref> The early sources must have reflected the '''raid''' and mercenary activity of the Slavic tribes within Roman Dalmatia. Also there are no '''contemporary''' written records about the invasion/migration/settlement, about the events as a whole ''and'' the area itself.

The early medieval Western Balkans must have had multiple small Slavic ethnic tribes. In some cases the newly arrived Slavs lived amongst the population that was there prior to their arrival. It is my opinion that for whatever reason it appears that their history has not been recorded accurately ''or'' not recorded at all (it evolved into frontier country, 'borderland').  

The early medieval Western Balkans must have had multiple small Slavic ethnic tribes. In some cases the newly arrived Slavs lived amongst the population that was there prior to their arrival. It is my opinion that for whatever reason it appears that their history has not been recorded accurately ''or'' not recorded at all (it evolved into frontier country, 'borderland').  

From a Greco-Roman perspective they were all identified as Slavs. Most probably based on linguistic-language classification. The Slavs found themselves living in a '''medieval multi-ethnic''' region;  Roman Latin-Illyrian population as well as Liburnians, Greeks, Guduscani <ref>[http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/guduscani self.gutenberg.org:] ''"It has been assumed, that they were part of the Vandals, Goths or Lombards."'' </ref>, Ostrogoths and others. It has been mention that there is an possibility that further back in time other ethnic groups were within the Slavic tribes themselves. This could explain the Persian (Sarmatian) connection.   

From a Greco-Roman perspective they were all identified as Slavs. Most probably based on rough linguistic-language classification. The Slavs found themselves living in a '''medieval multi-ethnic''' region;  Roman Latin-Illyrian population as well as Liburnians, Greeks, Guduscani <ref>[http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/guduscani self.gutenberg.org:] ''"It has been assumed, that they were part of the Vandals, Goths or Lombards."'' </ref>, Ostrogoths and others. It has been mention that there is an possibility that further back in time other ethnic groups were within the Slavic tribes themselves. This could explain the Persian (Sarmatian) connection.   

It was the most powerful chieftains (the main political players) who left a '''mark''' on history. Taking this into account, over a period of time in the middle ages we have new '''political identities''' of Southern Slavs emerging (regionally based ''or'' names brought with them). Among these were Croatians, Narentines, Bulgarians<ref>Bulgarians also have a strong historic association with Turkic semi-nomadic tribes. It has been written that in early medieval times the Bulgar elite spoke a language that was a member of the Turkic language group. </ref>, Bosnians, Serbs (Raška) etc.  

It was the most powerful chieftains (the main political players) who left a '''mark''' on history. Taking this into account, over a period of time in the middle ages we have new '''political identities''' of Southern Slavs emerging (regionally based ''or'' names brought with them). Among these were Croatians, Narentines, Bulgarians<ref>Bulgarians also have a strong historic association with Turkic semi-nomadic tribes. It has been written that in early medieval times the Bulgar elite spoke a language that was a member of the Turkic language group. </ref>, Bosnians, Serbs (Raška) etc.  

[[File:300px-Serbo croatian dialects historical distribution.png|thumb|right|450px| Distribution of central South Slavic dialects '''before 16th century''' migrations.In blue Chakavian dialect witch could have gone further south before they intermixed.]]The ''politics'' of language standardisation is the issue at heart when it comes to the telling of the story of the modern Southern Slavic languages.  In the 19th century, Slavic language standardisation (Neo Shtokavian) entered firmly into the mix.<ref>Other languages commonly used in the region included, Romance Dalmatian, Old Venetian, Hungarian (Magyars) and written Latin.</ref>  This event had a huge influence on the region and its impact has to be '''fully examined'''. One question which can be asked.  

[[File:300px-Serbo croatian dialects historical distribution.png|thumb|right|450px| Distribution of central South Slavic dialects '''before 16th century''' migrations.In blue Chakavian dialect witch could have gone further south before they intermixed.]]The ''politics'' of language standardisation is the issue at heart when it comes to the telling of the story of the modern Southern Slavic languages.  In the 19th century, Slavic language standardisation (Neo Shtokavian) entered firmly into the mix.<ref>Other languages commonly used in the region included, Romance Dalmatian, Old Venetian, Hungarian (Magyars) and written Latin.</ref>  This event had a huge influence on the region and its impact has to be '''fully examined'''. One question which can be asked.  

''Did the 19th century scholars and linguists do their research scientifically or were they seriously influenced by the politics of the 19th Century Pan Slavic movement? Plus - is it continuing today?''

''Did the 19th century scholars and linguists (mainly from the Illyrian Movement from the Habsburg Empire) do their research scientifically or were they seriously influenced by the politics of the 19th Century Pan Slavic movement? Plus - is it continuing today?''

In this editors opinion, the answer is '''yes''' -  they were very seriously influenced by the politics of the Pan-Slavic movement? The Pan slavic movement was heavily influenced by '''European Imperialism'''  with an overriding attitude directed towards creating a unifying language for a state that negated the history of the various southern slavic and other language bases that were part of the Western Balkans. With this in mind the linguist of the day created a construct Serbo-Croatian language (''or'' Croatian-Serbo) with a Neo-Shtokavian base.  

In this editors opinion, the answer is '''yes''' -  they were very seriously influenced by the politics of the Pan-Slavic movement? The Pan slavic movement was heavily influenced by '''European Imperialism'''  with an overriding attitude directed towards creating a unifying language for a state that negated the history of the various southern slavic and other language bases that were part of the Western Balkans. With this in mind the linguist of the day created a construct Serbo-Croatian language (''or'' Croatian-Serbo) with a Neo-Shtokavian base.