The Iron Age in present-day Latvia, spanning from 500 BCE to 1200 CE, saw major advancements in agriculture, trade, and the formation of distinct ethnic groups. The early Iron Age (500 BCE – 1st century BCE) introduced iron tools, significantly improving farming practices and making agriculture the dominant economic activity. Bronze, obtained through trade, continued to be used for decorative ornaments.
During the Middle Iron Age (400–800 CE), regional identities began to solidify, with Baltic tribes evolving into distinct groups like the Curonians, Semigallians, Latgalians, and Selonians, while Finnic peoples became Livonians and Vends. Local chiefdoms emerged, marking a shift toward more organized societies.
The Latgalians in the context of the other Baltic tribes, ca. 1200 CE, the Eastern Balts are shown in brown and the Western Balts are shown in green (boundaries are approximate). Baltic territory was extensive inland. © Marija Gimbutas
Latvia's location made it an essential link in international trade networks, especially along the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, which connected Scandinavia to Byzantium via the Daugava River. Latvian amber, highly prized across Europe, reached distant markets in Greece and the Roman Empire via the Amber Road, contributing to Latvia’s reputation as "Dzintarzeme" or Amberland.
From 650 to 850 CE, a Scandinavian colony near Grobiņa, likely established by settlers from Gotland, played a role in regional dynamics, with Curonians paying tribute to Swedish kings according to historical accounts.
In the Late Iron Age (800–1200 CE), agriculture advanced with the adoption of the three-field system and rye cultivation. Craftsmanship improved with the introduction of the potter’s wheel and advanced metalworking techniques. Foreign coins from Arab, Western European, and Anglo-Saxon sources highlight the region’s growing involvement in trade. To protect their territory, the locals built networks of wooden hill-forts, establishing a framework for defense and governance that persisted into the medieval era.