In the early Middle Ages, the situation in Europe underwent drastic changes. The vast Roman Empire, which had shaped European politics for centuries, collapsed. Among the reasons for this collapse, today we also include the migrations of peoples, which altered the ethnic makeup of Europe and formed new boundaries similar to today's national borders. During this period, various Slavic peoples settled in the area of present-day Croatia, from which the Croatian nation later emerged. After settling in the Balkans, the Croats organized themselves into duchies and later into a kingdom, which played a significant role in the 19th century when it was important to establish legitimacy through a narrative of continuity for the nation. At the same time, within these early states, culturally-linguistic characteristics were constructed, which we know today and are an important part of the Croatian national identity. The problem in interpreting this part of history arises from errors resulting from ideological and national interpretations of history. Today, we have many sources that challenge or reject existing theories, raising questions about historical truth necessary for understanding a particular nation. In this task, in addition to historical events, I also address the significance of these interpretations of the past and other symbols for the national identification of individuals who identify as Croats living in Slovenia.
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