In prehistoric times the Finno-Ugric tribes, including ancestors of the Estonians, populated vast areas between the Ural Mountains and the Baltic Sea. Estonian culture developed in close contact with the Balts (ancestors of the Indo-European Latvians and Lithuanians) and other Indo-European peoples: Scandinavians, Germans, and later also Russians.

In the 13th century the Estonians were conquered by the Danes and Germans. In time, the German landholders took possession of the entire territory of Estonia, and most Estonians were reduced to serfdom.