Croatia has a long and complex history that dates back to the 7th century. It was first settled by the Illyrians, an ancient people who lived in the region before the arrival of the Slavs in the 6th century. The Croats, a Slavic people, arrived in the region in the 7th century and established the Kingdom of Croatia in the 9th century. The kingdom was ruled by a series of kings and dukes until the 13th century, when it was conquered by the Hungarian-Croatian kingdom.
In the 15th century, Croatia was incorporated into the Habsburg Empire, and it remained part of the empire until 1918. During this period, Croatia experienced a period of economic and cultural development, and its language and culture were heavily influenced by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In 1918, Croatia declared independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. This kingdom was later renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. During World War II, Croatia was occupied by Nazi Germany and Italy, and it was later incorporated into the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
In 1991, Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia, and it has since become a member of the European Union. Today, Croatia is a vibrant and diverse country with a rich cultural heritage.