Southern Slavs Unbound

The southern Slavs, initially united by language and culture, began to forge distinct identities influenced by historical conquests and religious divides. The Illyrian Movement emerged in the 19th century, aiming to promote unity among southern Slavs but ultimately served to bolster Croatian nationalism. Despite its failure, the movement sparked discussions about a potential South Slavic federation, laying the groundwork for future aspirations of unity among the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.