Review article
The Ethnicity of Split during Venetian and Ottoman Domination in the present-day Region of Dalmatia
Saša MRDULJAŠ
; Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar, Zagreb Područni centar Split
Abstract
The most important ethnic process in Split was its gradual transformation
from a Roman-Dalmatian to an ethnic Croatian town during the Middle
Ages. Following the completion of this process in the 14th century, Split
assumed the role as one of the centres of Croatian folk culture that produced
the father of Croatian literature, Marko Marulić. However, in the climate
of Venetian and Ottoman domination in the present-day region of
Dalmatia, fundamental changes in the ethnicity of Split took place. Until the
early 18th century liberation of mainly continental Dalmatia from the
Ottomans, Split remained a predominantly Croatian town. Nevertheless, the
Ottoman invasion and in particular the devastating epidemics extremely
reduced the elderly population. It was replaced by Croats from the immediate
surroundings of Split, mostly from neighbouring Poljica. Hence, these
new settlers and their descendants proportionally became crucial bearers of
old Split Croatian identity. During the 18th century until the fall of the
Venetian government, there was another significant, far-reaching ethnic
change. With elimination of Ottoman threat, almost autonomous agrarian
suburb settlements were stabilised around the centre of Split: Veli Varoš,
Dobri, Manuš, and Lučac. Simultaneously with the sharp spatial separation
of the peasant Croatian-Chakavian population from the core of Split, a significant
number of Italian immigrants arrived. Due to their number, they
substantially contributed to the Italianisation of the language for a large part
of the Croatian population in the town centre and to the social stratification.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
86333
URI
Publication date:
1.9.2012.
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