Croats 69801 225934653 2008-07-16T02:27:51Z Rjecina 188865 vandal revert {{Infobox Ethnic group | group = Croats <br> (Hrvati) | image = [[Image:Hrvati1.JPG|200px]] | caption = [[King Tomislav]] {{·}} [[Ivan Gundulić]] {{·}} [[Andrija Mohorovičić]] {{·}} [[Vladimir Prelog]]<br>[[Miroslav Krleža]] {{·}} [[Ivan Meštrović]] {{·}} [[Josip Jelačić]] {{·}} [[Anthony Francis Lucas|Antun Lučić]] |poptime = 6.2<ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=hrv Croatian language on Ethnologue.com]</ref> - 9 million (est.)<ref name="HWC">[http://www.crowc.org/english/about.asp?subcat=general Hrvatski Svjetski Kongres (Croatian World Congress)]</ref> |popplace={{flag|Croatia}}: 3,977,171<ref>[http://www.dzs.hr/Eng/censuses/Census2001/Popis/E01_02_02/E01_02_02.html 2001Census]</ref> |region1 = {{flagcountry|Croatia}} |region1={{flagcountry|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} |pop1= 571,317 (1996) |ref1=<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bk.html CIA World Factbook: Bosnia and Herzegovina]</ref> |region2={{flagcountry|Argentina}} |pop2= 440,000 |ref2=<ref>[http://www.studiacroatica.com/sinovcic/019_027.htm Marko Sinovčić, Hrvati u Argentini i njihov doprinos hrvatskoj kulturi]</ref> |region3={{flagcountry|USA}} |pop3= 393,147 |ref3=<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=D&-ds_name=D&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-mt_name=ACS_2002_EST_G2000_PCT026]</ref><ref>[http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf Official Results of United States 2004 census]</ref> |region4={{flagcountry|Germany}} |pop4= 227,510 |ref4=<ref>[http://www.destatis.de/download/e/bevoe/AuslaenderGeburtsland.xls De Statistics]</ref><ref>[http://www.destatis.de/jetspeed/portal/cms/Sites/destatis/Internet/DE/Content/Statistiken/Bevoelkerung/AuslaendischeBevoelkerung/Tabellen/Content100/AlterAufenthaltsdauer,property=file.xls 2006 figures]</ref> |region5={{flagcountry|Chile}} |pop5= 130,000 (est.) |ref5=<ref>{{hr icon}}[http://www.hic.hr/dom/227/dom14.htm Hrvati u Čileu, životopisi, Dane Mataić Pavičić]</ref> |region6={{flagcountry|Australia}} |pop6= 118,046 |ref6=<ref>[http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/PopularAreas?ReadForm&prenavtabname=Popular%20Locations&type=popular&&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&textversion=false&collection=Census&period=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&productlabel=Ancestry%20by%20Country%20of%20Birth%20of%20Parents&breadcrumb=POTL&topic=Ancestry& Results of 2006 Australia census]</ref> |region7={{flagcountry|Canada}} |pop8= 110,880 |ref8=<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=0&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=1&IPS=&METH=0&ORDER=1&PID=92333&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=No&StartRow=1&SUB=801&Temporal=2006&Theme=80&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= Census 2006]</ref><ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=0&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=1&IPS=&METH=0&ORDER=1&PID=92333&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=No&StartRow=1&SUB=801&Temporal=2006&Theme=80&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= Ethnic Origin (247), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada]</ref> |region9={{flagcountry|Serbia}} |pop9= 70,602 |ref9=<ref>[http://www.statserb.sr.gov.yu/zip/esn31.pdf 2002 Census in Serbia]</ref> |region10={{flagcountry|Austria}} |pop10= 60,650 |ref10=<ref>[ftp://www.statistik.at/pub/neuerscheinungen/vzaustriaweb.pdf Census 2001]</ref> |region11={{flagcountry|Brazil}} |pop11= 45,000 |ref11=<ref>[http://br.esportes.yahoo.com/060612/38/15p5o.html By Origin]</ref> |region12={{flagcountry|France}} |pop12= 50,000 (est) |ref12=<ref>[http://www.amb-croatie.fr/croatie/saviez-vous.htm#arts/ Croats in France by Ammbasy]</ref> |region13={{flagcountry|Switzerland}} |pop13= 40,848 |ref13=<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/22/publ.Document.88215.pdf 2006 Figures]</ref><ref>[http://www.humanrights.ch/home/upload/pdf/070116_CERDSchlussversion_d.pdf as of 2004]</ref> |region14={{flagcountry|Slovenia}} |pop14= 35,642 |ref14=<ref>[http://www.stat.si/popis2002/en/rezultati/rezultati_red.asp?ter=SLO&st=7 Slovenian census 2002]</ref> |region15={{flagcountry|Hungary}} |pop15= 25,730 |ref15=<ref>[http://www.nepszamlalas.hu/eng/volumes/06/00/tabeng/1/load01_10_0.html Hungary census]</ref> |region16={{flagcountry|Italy}} |pop16= 21,360 |ref16=<ref>[http://demo.istat.it/str2006/query.php?lingua=eng&Rip=S0&paese=A12&submit=Tavola Foreingers in Italy]</ref> |region17={{flagcountry|South Africa}} |pop17= 10,000 |ref17=<ref>[http://www.hic.hr/dom/227/dom08.htm Croatians in South Africa and their clubs]</ref> |region18={{flagcountry|Montenegro}} |pop18= 6,811 |ref18=<ref>[http://www.monstat.cg.yu/Popis/Popis01a.zip Montenegrian census]</ref> |region19={{flagcountry|Romania}} |pop19= 6,786 |ref19=<ref>[http://mimmc.ro/info_util/formulare_1294/ Census in Romania]</ref> |region20={{flagcountry|Sweden}} |pop20= 6,063 |ref20=<ref>[http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BE0101_2006A01_BR_03_BE0107TAB.pdf By Ancestry 2008]</ref> |region21={{flagcountry|New Zealand}} |pop21= 10,000 |ref21={{Fact|date=June 2008}} |region22={{flagcountry|Netherlands}} |pop22= 10,000 |ref22={{Fact|date=June 2008}} |region23={{flagcountry|Spain}} |pop23= 8,000 |ref23={{Fact|date=June 2008}} |region24={{flagcountry|Belgium}} |pop24= 810 |ref24=<ref>[http://www.dofi.fgov.be/fr/statistieken/statistiques_etrangers/Stat_ETRANGERS.htm Croatians in Belgium]</ref> | langs = [[Croatian language|Croatian]]<br/> | rels = Predominantly [[Roman Catholic]] | related = Other [[Slavic peoples]], especially South Slavs<br>See "[[#Cognate peoples|Cognate peoples]]" below }} {{Croats}} [[Image:PuntaArenasCroatianTomb.jpg|thumb|200px|One of many Croatian tombs at the [[Punta Arenas]] (Chile) municipal cemetery]] '''Croats''' ({{lang-hr|Hrvati}}) are a [[South Slavs|South Slavic]] people mostly living in [[Croatia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and nearby countries. There are around 4.6 million Croats living in the southern [[Central Europe]] region, along the east bank of the [[Adriatic Sea]] and an estimated 9 million throughout the world. Due to political, social and economic reasons, many Croats have since migrated throughout the world, and established a notable [[Croatian diaspora]]. Large Croat communities exists in a number of countries, including [[United States of America|The United States]], [[Australia]], [[Germany]], [[Chile]], [[New Zealand]] and [[South Africa]]. Croats are noted for their unique culture, which throughout the ages, has been variously influenced by both [[Eastern world|the Eastern world]] and the [[Western Civilization|Western world]]. The Croats are predominantly [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] and their language is [[Croatian language|Croatian]]. ==Locations== [[Croatia]] is the [[nation state]] of the Croats, while in the adjacent [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] they are one of the three ''[[Nations of Bosnia and Herzegovina|constitutive nations]]''. Autochthonous Croat minorities exist in or among: *[[Vojvodina]], the northern autonomous province of [[Serbia]], where the [[Croatian language]] is official (along with five other languages); the vast majority of the [[Šokci]] consider themselves Croats, as well as many [[Bunjevci]] (the latter had settled the vast and abandoned area after the Ottoman retreat, as well as other nationalities there; the origins of this Croat subgroup are from the south; mostly in the region of [[Bačka]]) *The [[Šokci]] and [[Bunjevci]] communities in [[Bács-Kiskun]] county in [[Hungary]] *Croats are a recognized people in the [[Republic of Montenegro]] as well as Croatian language in use; they mostly live in the [[Bay of Kotor]] *a very small community in [[Carso]] and [[Trieste]] area, in [[Italy]]. This is the northwesternmost area populated by of Croats - they are mostly assimilated, but there traces in surnames and some placenames *[[Slovenian Littoral|Primorska]], [[Prekmurje]] and in the [[Metlika]] area in [[Lower Carniola|Dolenjska]] regions in [[Slovenia]] *[[Zala]], [[Baranya (county)|Baranya]] and [[Somogy]] counties in Hungary, which are border areas with Croatia) *[[Krashovans]] in the [[Romania]]n mostly consider themselves Croatian - see ''[[Croats of Romania]]'' *[[Burgenland]] in the eastern part of [[Austria]], and the bordering areas of western [[Hungary]] (counties [[Vas]] and [[Győr-Moson-Sopron]]) and [[Slovakia]] - the Croats of ''[[Burgenland|Gradišće]]'' - [[Burgenland Croats]]. *[[Kosovo]] - [[Janjevci]] ([[Letničani]]) *[[Molise]] area in [[Italy]] - [[Molise Croats]] *[[Szentendre]] town in [[Hungary]], [[Magyars|magyarized]], but with a memory of their Croat origins (from [[Dalmatia]]) *[[Slovakia]] area around [[Bratislava]] in villages [[Chorvátsky Grob]], [[Čunovo]], [[Devínska Nová Ves]], [[Rusovce]] and [[Jarovce]]. Most of them have assimilated but a small minority still preserves it's Croatian identity. *[[Moravia]] region in [[Czech Republic]]. The population estimates are reasonably accurate domestically: around four million in Croatia and nearly 600,000 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or 15% of the total population. ===Diaspora=== A large number of Croats were forced over the course of the time for economic or political reasons to leave their traditional homeland, thus today there exists quite a large [[Croatian diaspora|Croat diaspora]] outside of their traditional homeland of the southern Central Europe. The first large emigration of Croats took place in the 15th and 16th centuries, at the beginning of the [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman]] conquests in today's Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. People fled into safer areas within today's Croatia, and other areas of the [[Habsburg Empire]] (today's Austria and Hungary). This migration resulted in Croat communities in Austria and Hungary. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, larger numbers of Croats emigrated, particularly for economic reasons, to overseas destinations. Some destinations included North America, South America (above all Chile and Argentina), Australia and New Zealand. A further larger emigration wave, this time for political reasons, took place immediately after the end of the Second World War. Here fled both collaborators of the Ustaša regime, and refugees who did not want to live under a communist regime. It is estimated that during and immediately after the Second World War (from 1939 to 1948) about 250,000 Croats had to leave the country{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. In the second half the 20th century numerous Croats, to a large extent due to difficult economic living conditions, left the country as immigrant workers particularly to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In addition some emigrants left for political reasons. This migration made a lowering of unemployment for communist Yugoslavia possible at that time and created at the same time by the transfers of the emigrants to its families an enormous foreign exchange source of income. The last large wave of Croat emigration occurred during and after the [[Yugoslav Wars]], when many people from the region (not only Croats but Serbs, Bosniaks and others as well) had to leave as refugees. Migrant communities that were already established in countries such as Australia, the USA, and Germany grew as a result. Abroad, the count is only approximate because of incomplete statistical records and [[naturalization]], but (highest) estimates suggest that the Croatian diaspora numbers between a third <ref>[http://www.hrt.hr/arhiv/hrvati_u_svijetu/upoznajte_hrvatsku/09_hrvati_u_svijetu/hrv_u_svijetu.html Hrvati u svijetu], Croatian Radio Television archive</ref> and a half<ref name="HWC"/> of the total number of Croats. The largest emigrant groups are in Western Europe, mainly in Germany, where it is estimated that there are around 450,000 people with direct Croatian ancestry. Overseas, the [[Croatian American|United States]] contains the largest Croatian emigrant group (544,270 in the 1990 census; 374,271 in the 2000 census), mostly in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and California), followed by [[Croatian Australian|Australia]] (105,747 according to 2001 census, with concentrations in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth) and Canada (Southern Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta). Croats have also emigrated in several waves into South America, chiefly Argentina, Chile, and Brazil; estimates of their number wildly vary<ref>[http://www.matis.hr/vijesti.php?id=398 Croatian Heritage Foundation] Većeslav Holjevac in his book ''Hrvati izvan domovine estimates the number of Croatian emigrants in South America at 180,000 in 1932.</ref><ref>[http://www.hia.com.hr/iseljenici01.html Croatian Emmigrant Adresary] places the total number of Croats in South America as high as 500,000</ref>. There are also smaller groups in Peru, New Zealand and South Africa. The most important organization of the Croatian [[diaspora]] are the [[Croatian Fraternal Union]], [[Croatian Heritage Foundation]] and the Croatian World Congress. ==Origins== The origin of the Croatian tribe before the [[Human migration#The Great Migrations|great migration of the Slavs]] is uncertain. According to the most widely accepted<ref name="Katicic"> [http://www.hercegbosna.org/ostalo/prijepori.html O porijeklu Hrvata], Radoslav Katičić, re-published on hercegbosna.org website</ref> ''Slavic theory'' of the 7th century, the Croatian tribe moved from the area north of the [[Carpathian Mountains|Carpathians]] and east of the river [[Vistula]] (referred to as ''White Croatia'') and migrated into the western [[Dinaric Alps]]. [[White Croats]] formed the [[Dalmatia|Principality of Dalmatia]] in the upper [[Adriatic]]. Another wave of Slavic migrants from [[White Croats|White Croatia]] subsequently founded the Principality of [[Pannonia]]. According to the ''autochthonous model'', mostly promoted by [[Illyrian Movement]] in the 19th century and abandoned<ref name="Katicic"/> by the mid-19th century, the homeland of Slavs is actually in the area of southern Croatia, and they spread northwards and westwards rather than the other way round. A revision of the theory, developed by [[Ivan Muzić]] <ref name="Muzic">[http://www.muzic-ivan.info/historiografija.htm Ivan Muzić, O hrvatskoj historiografiji i autohtonosti u Hrvata], foreword to the book "Hrvati i Autohtonost"</ref> argues that Slav migration from the north did happen, but the actual number of Slavic settlers was small and that the [[Illyrian]] ethnic substratum was prevalent for formation of Croatian ethnicity. The Iranian origin of the Croats suggests that they are descendants of ancient [[Iranic peoples|Iranians]] (cf. [[Alans]]), these are perceived appearances of the name for Croatia or Croatians. The earliest claimed mention of the Croatian name, ''Horouathos'', can be traced on two stone inscriptions in the [[Greek language]] and [[Greek script|script]], dating from around the year 200 AD, found in the seaport [[Tanais]] on the [[Azov sea]], located on the [[Crimea]]n peninsula (near the [[Black Sea]]). Both tablets are kept in an archaeological museum in [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia. Whether the term ''Hourathos'' is related to the Croat ethnonym is open to conjecture, as the two words may have separate origins. [[Genetics|Genetically]], on the Y chromosome line, a majority (>87%) of Croats belong to one of the three major [[Europe]]an Y-DNA [[haplogroup]]s -- [[Haplogroup I (Y-DNA)|Haplogroup I]] (38%), [[Haplogroup R1a (Y-DNA)|Haplogroup R1a ]] 35% and [[Haplogroup R1b (Y-DNA)|Haplogroup R1b]] 16%<ref name="baric">Barac et al, ''"Y chromosomal heritage of Croatian population and its island isolates"'', European Journal of Human Genetics (2003) 11, 535-542</ref>. All three groups migrated to Europe during the upper paleolithic around 30,000-20,000 BC. [[Image:Croat haplogroups.jpg|thumb|175px|Croat Haplogroups]] Later, neolithic lineages, originating in the Middle East and that brought agriculture to Europe, are present in surprisingly low numbers. The [[haplogroup]]s [[Haplogroup J (Y-DNA)|J]], [[Haplogroup E (Y-DNA)|E]] and [[Haplogroup G (Y-DNA)|G]] constitute together less than 10% - significantly lower than other populations in the region.<ref name="pericic">Pericic et al, ''"High-Resolution Phylogenic Analysis of Southeastern Europe Traces Major Episodes of Paternal Gene Flow Among Slavic Populations"'', Journal of Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (2005)</ref> Furthermore the dominant presence of [[Haplogroup I (Y-DNA)|haplogroup I]] is rather interesting. This group exists in Europe only and is fairly wide-spread, but in relatively small percentages. Its frequency in the Balkans is high, but the only populations that have similar levels of the I group are the [[Scandinavia]]ns.<ref name="semino">Semino et al, ''The Genetic Legacy of Paleolithic Homo sapiens sapiens in Extant Europeans'', Science Vol290, 2000</ref> Haplogroup I is believed to have weathered the last glacial maximum in the western [[Balkan]]s, migrating north as the ice sheets retreated. There are a number of relevant conclusions that can be drawn from the genetic data. First of all it gives strong support to the theory that the region of modern day Croatia served as a refuge for northern populations during the [[Last Glacial Maximum|last glacial maximum]] (LGM). Eastern Adriatic coast was much more to the south, northern and western parts of that sea were steppes and plains, while modern Croatian islands (rich with the archeological sites from Paleolithic) were hills and mountains. After the LGM there was a migration to the north of the people whose offspring today form a significant portion of the three aforementioned Scandinavian populations. Those who decided to stay are the ancestors of about 38 per cent of modern day Croats <ref name="baric"/><ref name="semino"/> in the Croatian mainland and more than 50 per cent of modern day Croats in Dalmatia (Croatia). The second conclusion that can be drawn is that the theory of an Iranian origin has little genetic support. Modern-day Iranians have a significantly different haplogroup distribution, although millennia ago Persia may have been home to altogether different peoples. Only a relatively small percentage of the Croats belong to one of the haplogroups that is common in the Middle East. The low frequency of these groups is consistent with the minor migration of Neolithic farmers from the Middle East that occurred around 10,000 years ago.<ref name="sforza">Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, ''Genes, Peoples and Languages (2001)''</ref> And the third conclusion is that modern-day Croats may not have that much genetically in common with the Croats of the proto-Slavic origin. The R1a haplogroup that is usually at 40-60% levels in most [[Eastern Europe]]an countries is at 35% within the Croat population. Genetic evidence points to the fact that there was a high degree of mixing of the newly arrived Croat tribes with the indigenous populations that were already present in the region of the modern day Croatia.<ref name = "olson">Steve Olson, ''Mapping Human History'' (2003)''</ref> Hence, most modern day Croats are descended from the original European population of the region and have lived in the territory by other names, such as [[Illyrians]] and their forebears. These original inhabitants also served an important role in re-populating Europe after the last ice age.<ref name="pericic"/> ==History== {{see also|History of Croatia|Medieval Croatian state}} The earliest Croatian state was the Principality of [[Dalmatia]]. Prince [[Trpimir]] of Dalmatia was called [[Duke]] of Croats in 852. In 925 Croatian Duke of [[Dalmatia]] [[Tomislav|Tomislav of Trpimir]] united all Croats. He organized a state by annexing the Principality of [[Pannonia]] as well as maintaining close ties with [[Pagania]] and [[Zahumlje]]. Since the creation of the [[Pacta conventa (Croatia)|personal union]] with [[Hungary]] in 1102, the Croats were at times subjected to forceful [[Germanization]] and [[Magyarization]] from XVII century. The ensuing [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] conquests and [[Habsburg]] domination broke the Croatian lands into disunity again—with the majority of Croats living in [[History of Croatia|Croatia proper]] and [[History of Dalmatia|Dalmatia]]. Large numbers of Croats also lived in [[Slavonia]], [[Istria]], [[Rijeka]], [[Herzegovina]] and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]]. Over the centuries ensued a wave of Croatian emigrants, notably to [[Molise]] in [[Italy]], [[Burgenland]] in [[Austria]] and eventually the [[United States of America]]. After the [[First World War]], most Croats were united within the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]], created by joining South Slavic lands under the former Austro-Hungarian rule with the [[History of Serbia|Kingdom of Serbia]], Croats became one of the constituent nations of the new kingdom. The state was transformed into the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] in 1929 and the Croats were melted into the new nation with their neighbour fellow-South Slavs—[[Yugoslavs]]. In 1939, the Croats received a high degree of autonomy when the [[Banovina of Croatia]] was created, which united almost all ethnic Croatian territories within the Kingdom. In the [[Second World War]], the [[Axis forces]] created a puppet state—the [[Independent State of Croatia]], led by the fascist [[Ustaše]] movement, which sought to create an ethnically clean Croatian state. In response, many Croats joined the anti-fascist supra-ethnic [[Partisans (Yugoslavia)|partisan movement]], led by the [[Communist Party of Yugoslavia]]. During and after the war, between 40,000 and 200,000 Croats lost their lives. Post-war [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] became a [[federation]] consisting of 6 republics, and Croats became one of two ''constituent peoples'' of two—[[Croatia]] and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (in the latter one of the three since 1968). Croats in [[Serbia]], in autonomous province of [[Vojvodina]] never reached that status. Following the democratization of society, accompanied with ethnic tensions that emerged in post-[[Josip Broz Tito|Tito]] era, in 1990 the Republic of Croatia declared independence, which was followed by [[Croatian War of Independence|war]] with its Serb minority, backed up by Serbia-controlled [[Yugoslav People's Army]]. In the first years of the war, over 200,000 Croats were displaced from their homes as a result of the military actions. In the peak of the fighting, around 550,000 ethnic Croats were displaced altogether during the Yugoslav wars. During the [[Bosnian War]], which followed the one in Croatia, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Croats attempted their own independent state inside Bosnia and Herzegovina—the [[Herzeg-Bosnia|Croatian Community/Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia]], but subsequently joined into the [[Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. Post-war government's policy of easing the immigration of ethnic Croats from abroad encouraged a number of Croatian descendants to return to Croatia. The influx was increased by the arrival of Croatian refugees from [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. After the war's end in 1995, most Croatian refugees returned to their previous homes, while some (mostly Croat refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Janjevci from Kosovo) moved into the formerly-held Serbian housing. ==Culture and traditions== {{main|Culture of Croatia}} [[Image:Krawaty.jpg|right|thumb|200 px|Necktie, the Croatian brand]] The area settled by Croats has a large diversity of historical and cultural influences, as well as diversity of terrain and geography. The coastland areas of [[Dalmatia]] and [[Istria]] were subject to [[Roman Empire]], [[Venetian Republic|Venetian]] and [[Italy|Italian]] rule; central regions like [[Lika]] and western [[Herzegovina]] were a scene of battlefield against the [[Ottoman Empire]], and have strong epic traditions. In the northern plains, [[Austro-Hungarian]] rule has left its marks. In spite of foreign rule, Croats developed a strong, distinctive culture and sense of national identity, a tribute to the centuries in which they remained distinct, avoiding assimilation of the overlords' population. The most distinctive features of Croatian [[folklore]] include [[klapa]] ensembles of Dalmatia, [[tamburitza]] orchestras of [[Slavonia]]. Folk arts are performed at special events and festivals, perhaps the most distinctive being [[Alka]] of [[Sinj]], a traditional knights' competition celebrating the victory against Ottoman Turks. The epic tradition is also preserved in epic songs sung with [[gusle]]. Various types of [[Kolo (dance)|kolo]] circular dance are also encountered throughout Croatia. [[Croatian language]] has the longest written tradition of all [[South Slavic languages]], with documents like [[Baška Tablet]] dating as early as 1100. The modern standard language is based on ijekavian [[shtokavian]] dialect. There are two other dialects, [[chakavian]] (spoken in Istria and Dalmatia) and [[kajkavian]], (spoken in [[Zagorje]] and wider [[Zagreb]] area), which to an extent have been influenced and superseded by the standard, yet they still color the respective vernacular speeches. Despite that diversity, Croats take their language as a strong issue of national consciousness and are fairly negative towards foreign influences. Croats are vastly [[Roman Catholic]], and the church has had a significant role in fostering of the national identity. The confession played a significant role in the Croatian [[ethnogenesis]]. [[Dubrovnik Republic]] and Dalmatia are the homeland of [[Croatian literature]]. It was developed largely in the [[renaissance]] period, with works of [[Dalmatia]]n and [[Ragusa]]n authors like [[Marko Marulić]] and [[Marin Držić]], and continued through [[baroque]] with [[Ivan Gundulić]], [[romanticism]] with [[Ivan Mažuranić]] and [[August Šenoa]] up to the modern days. ===Art=== {{main|Art of Croatia}} [[Image:1240 portal Trogir.jpg|thumb|left|Portal of [[Trogir]] chatedral by sculptor [[Radovan]], c. 1240]] In the 7th century the [[Croats]], with other [[Slavs]] and [[Avars]], came from Northern Europe to the region where they live today<ref>[http://www.raceandhistory.com/Science/croatia.htm raceandhistory.com - HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL CROATIA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The [[Croats]] were open to [[roman art]] and culture, and first of all to [[Christianity]]. First churches[http://www.culturenet.hr/v1/english/panorama.asp?id=56] were build as royal sanctuaries, and influences of Roman art was strongest in Dalmatia where urbanization was thickest, and there was largest number of monuments. Gradually that influence was neglected and certain simplification, alteration of inherited forms and even creation of original buildings appeared. The largest and most complicated central based church from 9th century is [[St Donatus]] in [[Zadar]]. From those times, with its size and beauty we can only compare the chapel of [[Charlemagne]] in [[Aachen]]. [[Altar]] enclosure and windows of those churches were highly decorated with transparent shallow string-like [[ornament]] that is called '''Croatian pleter''' (meaning to weed) because the strings were threaded and rethreaded through itself. Sometimes the engravings in early Croatian script – [[Glagolitic]] appeared. Soon, the glagolic writings were replaced with [[Latin]] on altar boundaries and [[architrave]]s of old-Croatian churches. [[Image:Dubra.JPG|right|thumb|260 px|The Walls of [[Dubrovnik]], [[UNESCO]] Heritage]]By joining the [[Hungary|Hungarian]] state in the [[12th century|twelfth century]], Croatia lost its independence, but it didn't lose its ties with the south and the west, and instead this ensured the beginning of a new era of [[Central Europe]]an cultural influence. Early [[Romanesque art]] appeared in Croatia at the beginning of 11th century with strong development of [[monasteries]] and reform of the church. In that period many valuable monuments and artefacts alongside Croatian coast were made, like [[Cathedral of St. Anastasia, Zadar]] (natively - St. Stošija) in Zadar (13th century). In Croatian Romanesque sculpture we have a transformation of decorative interlace relief (Croatian pleter) to figurative. The best examples of Romanesque sculpture are: ''wooden doors of Split cathedral'' done by [[Andrija Buvina]] (c.1220) and ''Stone portal of Trogir cathedral'' done by artisan [[Radovan]] (c. 1240). Early [[frescoes]] are numerous and best preserved in [[Istria]]. On them we can evidence the mixing of influences of Eastern and Western Europe. The oldest [[miniature]]s are from 13th century – [[Gospels|Evangelical]] book from Split and Trogir. [[Image:Katedrala sv Stjepana Zagreb.jpg|left|thumb|Cathedral of [[St Stephen]] in capital of Croatia, [[Zagreb]], interior from 14th century]] The [[Gothic art]] in 14th century was supported by culture of cities councils, preaching orders (like [[Franciscans]]), and [[knight]]ly culture. It was the golden age of free Dalmatian cities that were trading with Croatian feudal nobility in the continent. Largest urban project of those times was complete building of two new towns – ''Small and Large [[Ston]]'', and about a ''kilometre of wall'' with guard towers between them (14th century). After [[Hadrian's wall]] in [[Scotland]], the longest wall in Europe. [[Tatars]] destroyed Romanesque cathedral in Zagreb during their scourge in 1240, but right after their departure Zagreb got the title of a free city from [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungarian]] king [[Bela IV]]. Soon after [[bishop]] Timotej began to rebuild the cathedral in new [[Gothic architecture|Gothic style]]. [[Zadar]] was an independent [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] city. The most beautiful examples of gothic humanism in Zadar are reliefs in [[gilded]] metal as in ''Arc of St Simon'' by artisan from [[Milan]] in 1380. Gothic [[painting]] is less preserved, and finest works are in Istria as [[fresco]]-cycle of ''Vincent from Kastv'' in ''Church of Holy Mary'' in ''Škriljinah'' near ''Beram'', from 1474. From that times are the two of the best and most decorated [[illuminated]] [[liturgies]] done by monks from Split, – ''Hvals’ Zbornik'' (today in Zagreb) and ''Misal of Bosnian duke Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić'' (now in [[Istanbul]]). [[Image:St Jacobs Cathedral 2.JPG|thumb|left|Cathedral of St Jacob in Šibenik from 1555, UNESCO World Heritage]] [[Image:Giulio Clovio 001.jpg|thumb|right|An illuminated page from Juraj Klović's Colonna hours, [[John Rylands Library]], Manchester.]] In 15th century, Croatia was divided between three states – northern Croatia was a part of [[Austrian Empire]], Dalmatia was under the rule of [[Venetian Republic]] (with exception of [[Dubrovnik]]) and Slavonia was under [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] occupation. Dalmatia was on the periphery of several influences so religious and public architecture with clear influence of [[Italian renaissance]] flourished. Three works out of that period are of European importance, and will contribute to further development of [[Renaissance]]: [[Cathedral of St. James, Šibenik|Cathedral of St.Jacob]] in [[Šibenik]], in 1441 by [[Juraj Dalmatinac]]; ''chapel of Blessed John from Trogir'' in 1468 by [[Nikola Firentinac]]; and ''Sorkočević’s villa'' in ''Lapad'' near Dubrovnik in 1521. In northwestern Croatia, the beginning of the wars with the [[Ottoman Empire]] caused many problems but in the long term it both reinforced the northern influence (by having the [[Habsburg|Austrians]] as the rulers). With permanent danger by Ottomans from east, there was modest influence of renaissance, while [[fortification]]s thrived, like fortified city of [[Karlovac]] in 1579 and fort of Ratkay family in ''Veliki Tabor'' from 16th century. Some of the famous Croatian renaissance artists lived and worked in other countries, like brothers [[Laurana]] (natively - Vranjanin, Franjo and Luka), miniaturist Juraj Klović (also known as [[Giulio Clovio]]) and famous mannerist painter [[Andrija Medulić]] (teacher of [[El Greco]]). In 17th and 18th century Croatia was reunited with the parts of country that were occupied by [[Venetian Republic]] and [[Ottoman Empire]]. The unity attributed to sudden flourishing of Art in every segment. Large fortifications with radial plan, [[ditches]] and numerous towers were built because of constant Ottoman threat. The two largest ones were [[Osijek]] and [[Slavonski Brod]]. Later they become large cities. Urban planning of Baroque is felt in numerous new towns like [[Karlovac]], [[Bjelovar]], [[Koprivnica]], [[Virovitica]] etc. Cities of Dalmatia also got baroque towers and [[bastions]] incorporated in their old walls, like the ones in [[Pula]], [[Šibenik]] or [[Hvar]]. But biggest baroque undertaking happened in [[Dubrovnik]] in 17th century after catastrophic earthquake in 1667 when almost entire city was destroyed. Wall painting experienced flourishing in all parts of Croatia, from illusionist frescoes in ''church of Holy Mary'' in [[Samobor]], [[St Catherine]] in [[Zagreb]] to Jesuit church in Dubrovnik. An exchange of artists between Croatia and other parts of Europe happened. The most famous Croatian painter was [[Federiko Benković]] who worked almost his entire life in Italy, while an Italian – ''Francesco Robba'', did the best Baroque sculptures in Croatia. In [[Austria]]n countries on the beginning of 19th century [[Romanticism|Romantic]] movement in Croatia was sentimental, gentle and subtle. At the end of 19th century architect [[Herman Bolle]] undertook one of the largest projects of European historicism – half-kilometer long neo-renaissance arcade with twenty domes on Zagreb cemetery [[Mirogoj]]. At the same time the cities in Croatia got important urban makeover. Pseudo building that emphasizes all three visual arts is former building of ''Ministry of Prayer and Education'' (so called "Golden Hall") in Zagreb (H. Bolle, 1895). [[Vlaho Bukovac]] brought the spirit of [[impressionism]] from [[Paris]], and he strongly influenced the young artists (including the authors of “Golden Hall”). On the ''Millennium Exhibition'' in [[Budapest]] they were able to set aside all other artistic options in [[Austro-Hungary]]. The turbulent twentieth century re-oriented Croatia politically on many occasions and affected it in many other ways, but it couldn't significantly alter its already peculiar position at the crossroads of many different cultures. ===Symbols=== [[Image:Flag of Croatia.svg|thumb|120px|right|The current flag of Croatia, including the current coat of arms]] [[Image:Croatia, Historic Coat of Arms.svg|thumb|120px|left|The ''grb'' (traditional shield)]] {{main|Flag of Croatia|Coat of arms of Croatia}} The [[Flag of Croatia]] consists of a red-white-blue [[tricolor]], and in the middle is the [[Coat of Arms of Croatia]]. The red-white-blue tricolor was chosen, as it was the colors of Pan-Slavism, popular in the 19th Century. The [[Coat of arms of Croatia|coat of arms]] consists of the traditional red and white squares or "grb", which simply means 'coat of arms'. It has been used to symbolise Croats for centuries; some speculate that it was derived from [[Red Croatia|Red]] and [[White Croatia]], historic lands of the Croatian tribe. The current design added the five crowning shields which represent the historical regions from which Croatia originated.<br clear="all"> The red and white checkerboard has been a symbol of Croatian kings since at least the 10th century, ranging in size from 3×3 to 8×8, but most commonly 5×5, like the current coat. It was traditionally conjectured that the colours originally represented two ancient Croat tribes, [[Red Croats]] and [[White Croats]], but there is no generally accepted proof for this theory. The oldest source confirming the coat as an official symbol is a genealogy of the [[Habsburg]]s, dated from 1512 to 1518. In 1525 it was used on a votive medal. The oldest known example of the ''šahovnica'' in Croatia is to be found on the wings of four falcons on a baptismal font donated by king [[Petar Krešimir IV of Croatia]] (1058–1074) to the Archbishop of Split. Unlike in many countries, Croatian design more commonly uses symbolism from the coat-of-arms, rather than from the [[Flag of Croatia|Croatian flag]]. This is partly due to the geometric design of the shield which makes it appropriate for use in many graphic contexts (e.g. the insignia of [[Croatia Airlines]] or the design of the shirt for the [[Croatia national football team]]), and partly due to the fact that neighbouring countries like [[Slovenia]] and [[Serbia]] use the same [[Pan-Slavic colours]] on their flags as Croatia. ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==See also== *[[List of Croats]] *[[Croatian literature]] *[[Croatian Australian]] ==External links== *{{hr icon}} [http://www.matica.hr/www/mh2www.nsf/indexNovo Matica Hrvatska] *[http://www.matica.hr/www/mh2www.nsf/indexNovo Review of Croatian History] at Central and Eastern European Online Library *[http://www.hercegbosna.org/engleski/history.html Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina: History] *[http://terkepek.adatbank.transindex.ro/kepek/netre/14.gif The Croatian nation at the beginning of the 20th century] ** [http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/art.html Famous Croats and Croatian cultural heritage] **[http://www.matis.hr/eng/ Croatian Heritage Foundation] Hrvatska matica iseljenika **[http://www.phoenixcroats.com Croatians in Arizona] [[Category:Croatian people|*]] [[Category:Croatian society]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Europe]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Hungary]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Slovenia]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Serbia]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Vojvodina]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina]] [[Category:Slavic nations|Croats]] [[Category:Slavic ethnic groups|Croats]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Croatia]] [[az:Xorvatlar]] [[be:Харваты]] [[bs:Hrvati]] [[bg:Хървати]] [[ca:Croats]] [[cs:Chorvati]] [[cy:Croatiaid]] [[de:Kroaten]] [[es:Pueblo croata]] [[eo:Kroatoj]] [[fa:کروات]] [[fr:Croates]] [[hr:Hrvati]] [[it:Croati]] [[he:קרואטים]] [[lt:Kroatai]] [[hu:Horvátok]] [[nl:Kroaten]] [[ja:クロアチア人]] [[pl:Chorwaci]] [[pt:Croatas]] [[ru:Хорваты]] [[sk:Chorváti]] [[cu:Хръвати]] [[sl:Hrvati]] [[sr:Хрвати]] [[sh:Hrvati]] [[fi:Kroaatit]] [[sv:Kroater]] [[tr:Hırvat]] [[uk:Хорвати]]