The Mediterranean in Croatian Literature and Culture A View from the Outside

Croatian literature and culture belong to the three neighboring civilizational and cultural circles: the Mediterranean, the Central European and the Balkanian. The role of each respective circle and the proportions among them depend on the place and the historical context in question. In both diachronic and synchronic perspectives, Croatian culture is an illustrative example of a polycentric and (cross)border culture whose identity is primarily Mediterranean and Central European. Its uniqueness, originality and unity stem from the richness and diversity of the cultural content of which it is composed. The Mediterranean component as a whole is very diverse and complex. This paper examines the importance of the categories of space and place in the humanities and the role of the Mediterranean in Croatian culture