during those years the original latin population took refuge in the coastal cities and in the islands, whilst other migrated to the mountains (they were later called "morlachs"). so, in the early middle ages, the coastal area of dalmatia retained its original latinized culture, mainly on the islands and cities such as zara, spalato, ragusa and cattaro. these cities during the middle ages were called "citta' marittime di dalmazia" (dalmatian maritime neolatin cities) and maintained deep cultural and commercial links with the italian mainland, thanks to intense commerce through the adriatic sea.