How did a small city on the Adriatic coast survive for centuries between powerful empires — and stay independent? To understand Croatia, you need to understand Dubrovnik . Not only because of its beautiful stone streets and famous city walls — but because of one important word: sloboda  (freedom). A Small City with a Big Identity The Dubrovnik Republic (also known as the Republic of Ragusa) existed from the 14th century until 1808. It was a maritime city-state that became ric

If you ask a Croatian where we come from, the answer will probably be simple: “We are Slavs.” And that is true. But the full story? It’s much more interesting. A Possible Iranian Connection Some linguistic evidence suggests that the name Hrvat  may have very old roots — possibly connected to northwestern Iran. Certain scholars believe the word comes from an ancient Iranian term similar to Hurvatu , meaning: guard protector watchman This does not mean Croats are Persian. It me