Dubrovnik well deserves its title as Jewel of the Adriatic. Its medieval city centre is one of the great cities of the world. Badly damaged in the Balkans war it has been lovingly restored. The only disappointment with the city are its new pan-tiled roofs that look a bit out of place against the medieval city building. Still surrounded by a massive city wall Dubrovnik juts out into the Adriatic. The large island of Lokrum protects the Dubrovnik bay and creates a natural harbor. Rising steeply from the narrow coastal plain are the Dinaric mountain range with mount Srd looking over the city.

Dubrovnik was the smallest of the Mediterranean Republics with an area of 1375 sq. KM. It natural harbor made it an important link in the chain of trading ports that crisis crossed the Adriatic and Mediterranean. Dubrovnik's creation is shrouded in legend but it was most likely founded by the fleeing inhabitants of the Roman city of Epidaurum which was sacked by the Avars and Slavs. The first cathedral in Dubrovnik dates from the 7th century and until the 12th century Dubrovnik grew as a major trading port ruled by Byzantium. It name originates from the Croatian word for holm oak tress, Croatian slowly settled here and there was a mixed Latin and Croatian community.

By the 12th century Dubrovnik was ruled by a Rector who was elected by the people. A class of nobleman and landowners was established as Dubrovnik grew in stature with important alliances and trading contracts with Pisa and all the important Adriatic ports. Further agreements with Bosnia and Serbia made it the central trading hub of the Balkans. In 1205 Dubrovnik came under Venetian authority and the Bishop of Venice was made Rector. Venice also nominated the council members of Dubrovnik but never really managed total supremacy in the city. Dubrovnik turned its trading away from Venice to Syria and north Africa and in 1358 the treaty of Zadar set Dubrovnik free from the Venetians.

By the 12th century Dubrovnik was ruled by a Rector who was elected by the people. A class of nobleman and landowners was established as Dubrovnik grew in stature with important alliances and trading contracts with Pisa and all the important Adriatic ports. Further agreements with Bosnia and Serbia made it the central trading hub of the Balkans. In 1205 Dubrovnik came under Venetian authority and the Bishop of Venice was made Rector. Venice also nominated the council members of Dubrovnik but never really managed total supremacy in the city. Dubrovnik turned its trading away from Venice to Syria and north Africa and in 1358 the treaty of Zadar set Dubrovnik free from the Venetians.

In its golden age Dubrovnik flourished with the riches it earn from trading silver and lead from Bosnian and Serbian mines. In demand from Florence and Venice the merchants of Dubrovnik flourished until the Turks took Bosnia and Serbia. Dubrovnik was forced to look elsewhere for new opportunities. Boat building became more important and the republic still controlled important salt producing areas. As the Americas were discovered and new shipping routes around Africa to India were opened Dubrovnik started to decline. In a bid to halt this the Republic's ships sailed further to open new shipping routes. Vice Bune, master mariner , entered Spanish service in the late 16th century and sailed to East India. He invested in a new port in Goa and . Even with the down turn by the end of the 18th century Dubrovnik had a fleet of 673 sailing ships, of which 255 were large long distance merchant ships.
Dubrovnik's ambassadors had embassies in all major cities and were expert in diplomacy which made for good trading partnerships. Mastering the art of diplomacy kept Dubrovnik out of conflict with the Turks and the Venetians and they were not involved in any wars after the 15th century.