Neolithic Period
The earliest known cultures in Croatia are from the Neolithic and Eneolithic Period (Copper Age).

Ancient Period
Cultures from Croatia had strong ties with Greek colonies on Mediterranean islands. In Roman times, Dalmatia was a Roman province and Split (Salona) was its center. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Dalmatia fell under the cultural influence of the Byzantine Empire.

From the 8th to 10th century
First typically Croatian building period. In Early Christian and Pre-Romanesque Periods, small churches with various floor-plans (mostly circular or cross-shaped with domes) were built. The stone ornaments "pleter" (Croatian traditional knotwork) appeared at the time. In the Romanesque Period, basilicas with naves, side aisles and apses were built (Rab, Zadar, Trogir), as well as the famous portals of the cathedrals in Split (wooden doors by the craftsman Buvina) and Trogir (portal by the craftsman Radovan).

From the 13th to 15th century
Gothic architecture appeared mostly in northern Croatia (the cathedral in Zagreb). Dalmatia in the 15th century was influenced by Venice. At the time, the so-called Floral Gothic style appeared - Juraj Dalmatinac being its most prominent representative. His works can be seen in Split, Dubrovnik and Zadar, while his masterwork, the cathedral in Sibenik, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the Renaissance, palaces, fountains and Knezev dvor (The Rector's Palace) were built in Dubrovnik.

17th and 18th century
The Baroque style, as well as the illusionist painting style, appeared in northern Croatia (Zagreb, Varazdin, and castles in Hrvatsko Zagorje region).

19th century
The Classicist style appeared, as well as the Bidermeier style in decoration and furniture. Vjekoslav Karas was the most prominent painter of this period. In the second half of this century, historicist paintings related to the awakening of the Croatian national consciousness were the most important works (Quiquerez, Masic, Ivekovic). Vlaho Bukovac (Zagrebacka sarena skola) introduced new tendencies and influenced the development of the Secession style in Croatia (Cikos-Sesija, Crncic...).

20th century
Croatia followed European trends in art. The originators of Croatian Modernism were educated in Munich (Racic, Kraljevic, Becic). Works by Ivan Mestrovic, the world renown artist, date back to this period. Between the two World Wars, Croatia was influenced by Expressionism and Cubism (Tartaglia, Sulentic, Gecan). After the War, a school of naive art was founded in Hlebine. In the early 50's, abstract tendencies emerged, while the 60's were the period of the "second Avant-garde". Nowadays, Croatia's artists are in touch with global trends.