Old Dubrovnik, Young Serbia and Vague Croatia. Mental Maps in the Serb-Catholic Imagination in Dubrovnik

A brief but impactful Serb-Catholic presence in Dubrovnik (19th–early 20th century) left enduring traces on the city's urban landscape, revealing complex intersections of language, religion, and national identity. The study, rooted in analysis of the cultural periodical Srdj (1902–08), uncovers how Serb-Catholics navigated linguistic criteria for Serbian identity while constructing symbolic mental maps that projected Serbian territory. This ambivalence—rooted in religious associations (Croatians with Catholicism, Serbs with Orthodoxy)—challenges simplistic national narratives and highlights the fluidity of identity formation during a pivotal era. The research underscores how even short-lived communities can shape urban symbolism and historical memory.

Czerwiński, M. (2020). Old Dubrovnik, Young Serbia and Vague Croatia. Mental Maps in the Serb-Catholic Imagination in Dubrovnik. Acta Poloniae Historica, 121, 143–160. https://doi.org/10.12775/aph.2020.121.07