East Herzegovina (Источна Херцеговина) is the eastern part of the historical Herzegovina region in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It comprises six municipalities located around the Neretva river, as a part of the Republika Srpska entity. The area straddles a Mediterranean-influenced lowland and has a continental cool highland climate with contrasting seasonal patterns.
History
The region of has a rich and complex history, with archaeological evidence indicating human presence since the Paleolithic period. Significant prehistoric settlements, such as those associated with the
Butmir culture (circa 2600–2400 BCE), demonstrate early agricultural and cultural development.
During classical antiquity, the area was inhabited by various
Illyrians tribes before becoming part of the
Roman Empire in the 1st century CE.
Slavic tribes migrated into the Balkans in the 6th and 7th centuries, establishing early medieval states.
The medieval Bosnian state emerged in the 12th century, gradually expanding its territory.
The
Ottoman Empire conquered the region in 1463, leading to centuries of Ottoman rule and significant demographic and cultural changes, including the spread of Islam.
In 1878, after the Austro-Hungarian occupation, Bosnia and Herzegovina became an administrative unit of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, before becoming part of
Yugoslavia, and later Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Geography
East Herzegovina is part of the broader Herzegovina region, characterized by a predominantly mountainous and hilly landscape.
It is situated in the
Dinaric Alps, a major mountain range in Southeast Europe.
The topography is defined by significant
karst formations, including vast underground water systems, caves, and depressions known as poljes, which are fertile plains. The climate in Eastern Herzegovina exhibits Mediterranean characteristics, especially in the southern parts, with warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.
The
Neretva River is a prominent geographical feature in Herzegovina, flowing through the region before emptying into the
Adriatic Sea.
It comprises six municipalities including the key towns in East Herzegovina include
Trebinje,
Nevesinje, and Bileća in
Republika Srpska.
West Herzegovina is the western part, west of the Neretva river, and is today administratively part of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and West Herzegovina Canton, predominantly inhabited by ethnic
Croats, located in the Federation of B&H entity. The easternmost parts of historical Herzegovina (the Duchy of St. Sava and Sanjak of Herzegovina) lie in
Montenegro, in so-called "
Old Herzegovina", which became part of the Principality of Montenegro in 1878.
Demographics
The region is home to a diverse population, with three main constituent peoples:
Bosniaks,
Serbs, and
Croats.
The ethnic composition of East Herzegovina largely reflects the overall demographic patterns of the Republika Srpska entity, where Serbs constitute a majority.
Religious affiliations are closely tied to ethnic identity, with Orthodox Christianity being prevalent among Serbs,
Islam among Bosniaks, and
Catholicism among Croats.
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| 31,433 |
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Bibliography
Further reading
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Milimir Lojović, Obren Gnjato (2016), Стара насеља источне Херцеговине и могућности њихове ревитализације, Demografija 13, pp. 353-373
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Лојовић, М., 2006. Антропогеографске основе и проблеми развоја туризма источне Херцеговине. Географски факултет Универзитета у Београду.
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Lojović, M. and Gnjato, O., 2016. Sustainable development of tourism in East Herzegovina. Zbornik radova-Geografski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu, (64), pp.361-399.
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Golijanin, A.R., 2016. Essentials of the construction and exploitation of hydraulic tunnels in karst of eastern Herzegovina. Tehnika, 71(6), pp.813-819.
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Samardžić, G.M., 2016. On the roman villas on the south of province of Dalmatia (Several examples from the area of East Herzegovina). Zbornik radova Filozofskog fakulteta u Prištini, (46-3), pp.3-19.
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Samardžić, G.M., 2017. On numismatic findings from the southern part of the province of Dalmatia (examples from the area of Eastern Herzegovina). Zbornik radova Filozofskog fakulteta u Prištini, (47-1), pp.27-42.
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Samardžić, G. (2015) Istočna Hercegovina u rimsko doba. Kosovska Mitrovica: Filozofski fakultet u Prištini
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Milanović, P.T., 2006. Karst istočne Hercegovine i Dubrovačkog priobalja: Karst of Eastern Herzegovina and Dubrovnik Littoral. Asocijacija speleoloških organizacija Srbije.
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Ćorović, R., 2014. Main characteristics of demographic development of eastern Herzegovina in the second half of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century. Zbornik Matice srpske za drustvene nauke, (148), pp.727-735.
