This is a short review of Croatia history from the Illyrians to the Romans, Austrians, Italians (Venice), Tito and the Homeland War.
Although Croatia developed under the influence of many different cultures - Greek, Roman, Celtic, Illyrian, Austrian, Hungarian, Byzantine, Islamic - it gave its own and unique contribution to the history of European civilization.
Let me give you a brief plan of the main historical periods of the Croatia past:
Illyrians period from 1000 BC
Around 400BC the first Greek colonies are founded on Adriatic islands (Pharos
Stari Grad on Hvar island.
Around 100BC Romans rule over the east coast of Adriatic, with Salona
(Solin) as a capital. Roman monuments are present everywhere along the
Adriatic coast (
Pula amphitheatre,
Zadar Forum,
Split Diocletian Palace and
many others).
At the beginning of the 7th century Croats (Horvats) has arrived on
Balkan peninsula.
The short period of the Croatian kingdom under Kings Tomislav, Kresimir,
Zvonimir.
From 1102 to 1526 Croatia was under common Hungarian and Croatian Kings.
From 1527 to 1918 Croatia makes a part of Austrian-Hungarian Empire,
while the part of Adriatic coast was under the Venice rule, except Dubrovnik
Republic.
From 1918 to 1041 Croatia became a part of Kingdom of Yugoslavia (
Kingdom of Serbia-Croatia-Slovenia) under the strong domination of Serbian
dynasty).
From 1941 to 1945 is a period of the independent state of Croatia.
From 1945 to 1991 Croatia is a part of Titos Yugoslavia, sometimes
called Second Yugoslavia, where Croatia was one of 6 republics.
From January 1992 after 4 years of homeland war, Croatia become
internationally recognized independent state.
