Changes

''In 1262 the Venetian praised the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula for submitting to the prince Venice had sent.'' }}</ref> Two languages, the Romance Latin language called ''Dalmatian'' and the old Slavic Chakavian language became the norm on the island. With time these languages started to overlap. The written language was [[Latin]]. The fact that Slavs from the then neighbouring [[Directory:Croatia|Kingdom of Croatia]] also spoke old Slavic Chakavian could indicate that this group of Slavs once came from the same or closely related tribal group.

''In 1262 the Venetian praised the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula for submitting to the prince Venice had sent.'' }}</ref> Two languages, the Romance Latin language called ''Dalmatian'' and the old Slavic Chakavian language became the norm on the island. With time these languages started to overlap. The written language was [[Latin]]. The fact that Slavs from the then neighbouring [[Directory:Croatia|Kingdom of Croatia]] also spoke old Slavic Chakavian could indicate that this group of Slavs once came from the same or closely related tribal group.

===Romanized Slavs===

===Romanized Slavs===

The new population of Narentines Slavs that invaded and then probably settled in the centre of the island spoke old Slavic Croatian '''Chakavian''' which is the language of the old medieval Croatian Dukes. 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 new population of Narentines Slavs that invaded and then probably settled in the centre of the island spoke old Slavic-Croatian '''Chakavian''' which is the language of the old medieval Croatian Dukes. 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]] After the Narentines, the Slavic pirates lost control of the island, Dalmatian Latins <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 who remained on the island. 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]] After the Narentines, the Slavic pirates lost control of the island, Dalmatian Latins <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 who remained on the island. 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: