Historical-geographical development of island Brač

Otok Brač je najveći dalmatinski otok, a naseljen je u prapovijesno doba. Povoljni geografski položaj, ugodna klima i relativno plodno tlo usmjerili su razvoj zemljoradnje i stočarstva u unutrašnjosti otoka. Gusarska opasnost u srednjem vijeku onemogućavala je naseljavanje na obali Brača pa su i ribarstvo i pomorstvo bili slabo razvijeni do početka mletačke uprave. Tada počinje razvoj pomorske trgovine i obrta zasnovanog na kamenarstvu jer se na Braču nalaze brojni kamenolomi u kojima se proizvodi kvalitetan kamen koji je bio važan izvozni proizvod Brača kroz čitavu povijest. Stanovništvo otoka Brača je usporeno raslo sve do 19. stoljeća kad dolazi do gospodarskog uzleta zbog jačanja vinogradarstva i razvoja pomorske trgovine po Sredozemlju. Krajem stoljeća zbog krize vinogradarstva dolazi do velike gospodarske krize pa počinje iseljavanje Bračana po čitavom svijetu koje je bilo intenzivno sve do sredine 20. stoljeća kad se počinje smanjivati. Važnu ulogu u gospodarskom razvoju tada preuzima turizam koji omogućuje izvor prihoda mnogim stanovnicima, a u budućnosti će se još više razvijati.Brač is the largest Dalmatian island. It has been inhabited by prehistoric period. Favorable geographical location, pleasant climate and fertile soil focused development of farming in the island's interior. Pirate threat in the Middle Ages prevented the colonization of the shore of the island and both fisheries and maritime affairs were poorly developed until the beginning of the Venetian rule. Then maritime trade and craft-based stone masonry begin developing. There were on the island numerous quarries that manufacture high quality stone that was an important export product Brač throughout history. The population of the island of Brač grew slowly until the 19th century when there was an economic upswing due to the strengthening of viticulture and development of maritime trade in the Mediterranean. At the end of the century due to the crisis viticulture the great economic crisis started. This caused emigration of inhabitants of Brač that has been extensive until the mid-20th century when it began to decline. This was the time when tourism assumed an important role in economic development of Brač which provided inhabitants with significant income. It is expected that tourism on Brač will continue to develop in the future