Editing History of Latvia (section)

== Prehistory ==
[[File:Corded Ware culture.png|thumbnail|right|[[Corded Ware culture]] area included Latvia]]
[[File:CombCeramicPottery.jpg|thumbnail|Comb pottery example from Estonia, 4000–2000 BC]]
[[File:Sarnates apmetnes depozits-1a.jpg|thumbnail|right|Neolithic bone tools]]
[[File:Slav-7-8-obrez.png|thumbnail|right|Baltic tribes (purple) in 7–8th centuries]]
The Ice Age in the territory of present-day Latvia ended 14,000–12,000 years ago. The first human settlers arrived here during the [[Paleolithic]] Age 11,000–12,000 years ago. They were hunters, who following the reindeer herds camped along the rivers and shore of the [[Baltic Ice Lake]]. As the [[geology of the Baltic Sea]] indicates, the coastline then reached further inland. The earliest tools found near [[Salaspils]] date to the late Paleolithic age, circa 12,000 years ago, and belong to the [[Swiderian culture]].

During the [[Mesolithic]] Age (9000–5400 BC) permanent settlements of [[hunter-gatherer]]s were established. They hunted and fished, establishing camps near rivers and lakes; 25 settlements have been found near [[Lake Lubāns]]. These people from the [[Kunda culture]] made weapons and tools from flint, antler, bone and wood.<ref name="lnvm.lv">{{Cite web |url=http://lnvm.lv/en/?page_id=863 |title=Ancient History of Latvia (11000 BC – 1200) |access-date=March 30, 2016 |archive-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025050903/http://lnvm.lv/en/?page_id=863 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Neolithic Age, 5000–1800 BC===
The early [[Neolithic]] (5400–4100 BC) was marked by the beginnings of pottery-making, animal husbandry and agriculture.

During the Middle Neolithic (4100–2900 BC) the [[Narva culture]] developed in the region. The inhabitants at this time were [[Baltic Finnic peoples|Finnic]],{{Citation needed|reason=As far as I am aware, and according to the Wikipedia page for the Narva culture, the peoples who inhabited the Narva culture were genetically much closer to WHG and therefore likely spoke pre-Finno-Ugric, Paleo-European languages, and they show only little relationship to the cultural and linguistic ancestors of Finnic peoples (setting aside how some of these Narva culture peoples were likely assimilated by incoming Finnic tribes).|date=March 2023}} forefathers of [[Livonians]], who were closely related to Estonians and Finns and belonged to [[Pit–Comb Ware culture]].

At the beginning of the Late Neolithic (2900–1800 BC), present-day Latvia was settled by [[Baltic people|Balts]] belonging to the [[Corded Ware culture]]. They were forefathers of the Latvians, and these have inhabited most of Latvian territory since the third millennium BCE.<ref>[http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/msr/Ethno/dategen1.html Data: 3000 BC to 1500 BC – The Ethnohistory Project<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622113922/http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/msr/Ethno/dategen1.html |date=June 22, 2006 }}</ref>

===Bronze Age, 1800 BC – 500 BC===
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===Iron Age, 500 BC–1200 AD===
[[File:Āraišu ezerpils 2001-05-26.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Āraiši lake dwelling site]] dates back to the late Iron Age]]
With the introduction of iron tools during the early [[Iron Age]] (500 BC – 1st cent. BC), agriculture was greatly improved and became the dominant economic activity. Bronze, traded from foreigners since Latvia has no copper or tin, was used for making a wide variety of decorative ornaments.<ref name="lnvm.lv"/>

Starting from the Middle Iron Age (400–800 AD) the local inhabitants began to form distinct ethnic and regional identities. Baltic peoples eventually became the [[Curonians]], [[Semigallians]], [[Latgalians]] and [[Selonians]], while Finnic peoples became the [[Livonians]], [[Estonians]] and [[Vends]]; local [[chiefdom]]s emerged.

At the beginning of the current era, the territory known today as [[Latvia]] became famous as a trading crossroads. The renowned [[trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks]] mentioned in ancient chronicles stretched from [[Scandinavia]] through Latvian territory via [[Daugava]] to the ancient [[Kievan Rus']] and [[Byzantine Empire]]. The ancient Balts actively participated in this trading network. Across Europe, Latvia's coast was known as a place for obtaining [[amber]] and Latvia sometimes is still called  ''Dzintarzeme'' (Amberland). Up to and into the [[Middle Ages]], amber was more valuable than gold in many places. Latvian amber was known in places as far away as [[Ancient Greece]] and the [[Roman Empire]], and the [[Amber Road]] was intensively used for the transport of amber to the south of Europe.

During the [[Vendel Period]] a Scandinavian settlement was established near the town of [[Grobiņa]], most likely by people from [[Gotland]]. This colony which numbered a few hundred people existed from a date between 650 and 850 AD. Many chronicles mention that Curonians paid a tribute to Swedish kings.

During the Late Iron Age (800–1200 AD) the [[three-field system]] was introduced, rye cultivation began, and the quality of local craftsmanship improved with the introduction of the [[potter's wheel]] and better metal working techniques. Arab, Western European and Anglo-Saxon coins dating from this era have been found. A network of wooden hill-forts was built, which provided control and security over the land.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://letonika.lv/groups/default.aspx?title=V%C4%93lais%20dzelzs%20laikmets/32098 |title=Vēlais dzelzs laikmets |access-date=March 30, 2016 |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027151605/https://www.letonika.lv/groups/default.aspx?title=V%C4%93lais |url-status=live }}</ref>