This volume presents forty essays charting the period from the thirteenth century to the beginning of the sixteenth century written by the most eminent specialists in Croatia under the auspices of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. This period, which is little known even in Europe, is one of the oldest European cultures dating from medieval times. Despite its geographical diversity, reaching across the Adriatic into Italy, and to the countries of Eastern Europe, Croatia retained its distinct ethnic and cultural identity. The book covers every aspect of Croatian culture: political, social, economic, religious, cultural, artistic and scientific. In an innovative and detailed analysis, the forty authors have created a balanced picture of what was happening during this most important period. Richly illustrated with colour plates, maps, plans, charts and diagrams, the book provides a major resource for all those seeking to gain a broader understanding of the development of European culture from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.