The Venetians keep Dalmatia as their poorest, most backward province: they reduce Dalmatian local autonomy, cut the forests, and stifle industry.

Venice also restricts education (to the extent that Zadar, the administrative center of Dalmatia, will lack even a printing press until 1796).

Despite centuries of struggle for dominance of the region and exploitation by Venice, Dalmatia will produce several first-rate artists and intellectuals, including the sculptor Radovan, Juraj Dalmatinac, an architect and sculptor, writer Ivan Gundulic, and scientist Rudjer Boskovic.