Dubrovnik

The Republic of Dubrovnik, a city-state in what is now Croatia, reached its "golden age" of prosperity and culture in the 1400s. It boasted a large merchant fleet that rivaled those of VENICE and Genoa, and its wide-ranging trade extended from England to the eastern Mediterranean.

Dubrovnik (also known as Ragusa) enjoyed remarkable political stability. Archbishop Elias de Saraca played a major part in freeing the city from Venetian control and putting it under the protection of Hungary in the 1350s. Dubrovnik gained autonomy* after 1358 and over the next 50 years steadily extended control over neighboring lands. At its peak, the city population reached about 7,000, and the countryside had another 25,000. Although located between two powerful neighbors, Venice and the OTTOMAN EMPIRE, Dubrovnik maintained peaceful relations with both. It also established a diplomatic service that greatly aided its trade. Though generally avoiding foreign alliances, the republic came under Spain's protection during the 1500s.

Dubrovnik's system of government spread power among the noble families and prevented any single individual from gaining political control. The executive officer only held power for a six-month term. Real power lay with the Grand Council, made up of all noblemen over age 20. Authors and travelers spread word of Dubrovnik in western Europe as a "perfect republic." William SHAKESPEARE even used it as the setting of his play Twelfth Night.

The local language of Dubrovnik was Slavic, although the nobility spoke a dialect called Old Ragusan in the Grand Council. Culturally, Dubrovnik's greatest achievement was probably the vernacular* Slavic literature that developed there. Its plays by Marin Drzic and Ivan Gundulic are among the greatest works in the Slavic languages. Writers and artists in Dubrovnik combined local influences with Italian humanism* brought back from travel and study abroad.