Since the mid-1990s, the republic of Croatia has taken its place among the independent nations of Europe, and its strong cultural identity is becoming better understood. As a result, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, based in Zagreb, has embarked on a five-volume history of Croatian culture, commissioning essays on the arts and sciences from over 100 leading specialists in the field. Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the relationship between Croatia and Western Europe was very close, with many important artists moving freely between them. Visitors to Zagreb and the Dalmatian Coast have long enjoyed the opportunity of sampling the enormous wealth and variety of Croatian art and architecture, and these volumes seek to make the achievements of this ancient but often misunderstood area of Europe accessible. This is the first volume, presenting 30 essays charting the period from the seventh to the twelfth century. Illustrated with colour plates, maps, plans & diagrams, it provides a resource for all those seeking to gain a broad understanding of the medieval world in Central Europe and the Adriatic region before the Ottoman invasions.