Croatia is located on the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Austria. As mentioned in the first lesson, many people lived near the Mediterranean, mainly because of the climate and domestication of this location. This land is split between mountains and a coastline, meaning that more plants, animals, and people would have been able to thrive near the coast, because of the mild winters and dry summers. Before 5,000 BC, the people that were settled in the land that is now Croatia learned how to farm, although they only had stone tools (Local Histories, Tim Lambert).
Before the Croats migrated to the area, Croatia was controlled by a few other parties. First, Greeks settled into the colonies that were along the coast, but soon after the Romans gradually took control. When the Romans had full control, they divided the area into different provinces, making the one across the coast Dalmatia. As time went on, Croatia slowly adapted to the Roman way of life as they built new towns and made new roads on the land. During the 5th Century, the Western Roman Empire began to fall, which led to the collapse of Roman control of Croatia.
At this time, Croats and other Slavic tribes were raising livestock and tending fields in a swampy terrain around the area of modern Ukraine and Belarus. Come the 7th century, these people began to move south and later began to settle in Dalmatia. These people began to settle in Dalmatia because of the climate. Towards the south of Dalmatia, the soils were perfect for grapes and olives. In the beginning of the 8th century, the Croats expanded northward towards the inland and northern parts of Dalmatia. The appropriate land and valleys for field crops drove them to settle in these places.
With the population expanding to different parts of the region and different types of farming becoming more common, new towns were created. These farming practices and the newer towns led to trade and commerce within the region.
The population that we know today of present-day Croatia was a result of World War II. There was rapid urbanization and people were migrating to the cities from the rural areas. In the second half of the 20th century, the portion of the population employed in agriculture dropped from about two-thirds to less than one-fifth, and cities began to double by population (Britannica, 2015). Today, less than one-fourth of Croatia’s land consists of agriculture. The rapid increase of the populations in the cities has led to this number.
Before the Croats migrated to the area, Croatia was controlled by a few other parties. First, Greeks settled into the colonies that were along the coast, but soon after the Romans gradually took control. When the Romans had full control, they divided the area into different provinces, making the one across the coast Dalmatia. As time went on, Croatia slowly adapted to the Roman way of life as they built new towns and made new roads on the land. During the 5th Century, the Western Roman Empire began to fall, which led to the collapse of Roman control of Croatia.
At this time, Croats and other Slavic tribes were raising livestock and tending fields in a swampy terrain around the area of modern Ukraine and Belarus. Come the 7th century, these people began to move south and later began to settle in Dalmatia. These people began to settle in Dalmatia because of the climate. Towards the south of Dalmatia, the soils were perfect for grapes and olives. In the beginning of the 8th century, the Croats expanded northward towards the inland and northern parts of Dalmatia. The appropriate land and valleys for field crops drove them to settle in these places.
With the population expanding to different parts of the region and different types of farming becoming more common, new towns were created. These farming practices and the newer towns led to trade and commerce within the region.
The population that we know today of present-day Croatia was a result of World War II. There was rapid urbanization and people were migrating to the cities from the rural areas. In the second half of the 20th century, the portion of the population employed in agriculture dropped from about two-thirds to less than one-fifth, and cities began to double by population (Britannica, 2015). Today, less than one-fourth of Croatia’s land consists of agriculture. The rapid increase of the populations in the cities has led to this number.
This map represents the land use in Croatia. The North contains the forest and field crops, while the South is where the grapes and olives are grown.
Croatia Land. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from
http://images.nationmaster.com/images/motw/europe/croatia_land_1996.jpg
Croatia Land. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from
http://images.nationmaster.com/images/motw/europe/croatia_land_1996.jpg
This population density map of Croatia shows how many people live each square mile.
Croatia Population Density. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.mappery.com/maps/Croatia-Population-Density-Map.jpg
Croatia Population Density. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.mappery.com/maps/Croatia-Population-Density-Map.jpg
Interested in learning more?
This Lonely Planet link will lead you to a full history of Croatia. If you want to learn more about the earliest settlement and the growth of Croatia, visit this link.
Lonely Planet
Encyclopaedia Britannica provides information on all there is to know about the history of Croatia. From the land, to the people, and the government, this site provides it all.
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Lonely Planet
Encyclopaedia Britannica provides information on all there is to know about the history of Croatia. From the land, to the people, and the government, this site provides it all.
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Population Pyramids
Citations
Crash Course in Croatia's History : Summary of Croatia History : Travel Channel. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Croatia. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/croatia/history
Lambert, T. (n.d.). A SHORT HISTORY OF CROATIA. Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.localhistories.org/croatia.html
Plestina, D. (n.d.). Croatia | history - geography. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Croatia. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/croatia/history
Lambert, T. (n.d.). A SHORT HISTORY OF CROATIA. Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.localhistories.org/croatia.html
Plestina, D. (n.d.). Croatia | history - geography. Retrieved September 16, 2015.