"Dubrovnik - The old city state of Ragusa " a Dubrovnik Travel Page by tpk2

"Oh beatiful, oh sweet, oh beloved liberty,
divine gift which embraces every treasure,
true source of all our glory,
sole adorment of this venerable city,
our pure beauty cannot be bought
by silver, gold, or spilled blood."

This is how famous poet Ivan Gundulic descriped his home town.

The beginnings of Dubrovnik date back to 7th century, when invading Slavs forced Romans to leave Cavtat. The Romans took refuge on the island of Ragusium.

During 8th and 9th centuries the inhabitants of Ragusium where attacked by Arabs, which forced them to ally with the Byzantines, who made them part of Dalmatia.

In 1204, Dubrovnik fall under Venician control. The nobles of the town transformed it to the Rebuplic of Ragusa, modeled on the Iltalian city-states. The town was a center of trade and kept its independent status by cunning diplomacy and financial power.

The time of change began in 1667, when an earthquake destroyed large parts of the old town. In 1806, Napolean proclaimed, after its invation, the death of the Rebuplic. Finally, in year 1991, after being part of Napoleon's empire, Austria, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slevenos and Yogoslavia, Dubrovnik became part Croatia.

The name of the town originates from the word "dubrava", wood. The old town of Dubrovnik reflects the history of the Ragusan rebuplic: it's surrounded by strong city walls. These ramparts and the skilled negotiators often kept the Republic out of costly wars.