Changes

* ''"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> It has  been written that they came  from the northwest. Also there has been written that Vlachs (Nigri Latini) where using the outer lands for pastoral activity.  

* ''"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> It has  been written that they came  from the northwest. Also there has been written that Vlachs (Nigri Latini) where using the outer lands for pastoral activity.  

By 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, Albanians, Montenegrins, Serbs & others etc,). From the west Spanish Jews (Spanish-Jews were expelled in 1493 from Spain), plus the devastating '''impact''' of plague epidemics and 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, i.e. Gianfrancesco Gondola (in modern Croatian, Ivan Gundulić).  

By 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, Albanians, Montenegrins, Serbs & others etc,). From the west Spanish Jews (Spanish-Jews were expelled in 1493 from Spain), plus the devastating '''impact''' of plague epidemics and the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake (around 5,000 people were killed). With this 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, i.e. Gianfrancesco Gondola (in modern Croatian, Ivan Gundulić).  

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.