As the climate warmed during the Mesolithic era (around 10,000 to 5,000 years ago), the population of Russia began to increase and diversify. Permanent settlements began to appear, and people started to practice agriculture and domesticate animals. The most prominent early cultures in Russia include the Dnieper-Donets culture in the south, the Narva culture in the northwest, and the Pit-Comb Ware culture in the northeast.
In the late Neolithic era (around 4,000 to 2,000 years ago), metallurgy emerged in Russia, and people began to produce tools and weapons from copper and bronze. This period also saw the development of wheeled vehicles and the use of horses for transportation. The most significant cultural groups of this era include the Yamnaya culture in the south, the Corded Ware culture in the west, and the Fatyanovo-Balanovo culture in the northeast.
In the Bronze Age (around 2,000 to 1,000 years ago), Russia saw the rise of several powerful civilizations. The most prominent among them were the Scythians, who inhabited the southern steppes, and the Sarmatians, who lived in the eastern and northern regions. These civilizations were known for their skilled horsemen, elaborate art, and sophisticated social organization.
By the 1st century AD, the first Slavic tribes began to appear in Russia. They originated from Central and Eastern Europe and gradually spread throughout the region. The Slavs established numerous settlements, including Kiev, Novgorod, and Moscow, which would later become important centers of Russian culture and politics.
In summary, the first people to settle in Russia were hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Paleolithic era. As the climate warmed and agriculture developed, various cultural groups emerged, including the Dnieper-Donets culture, the Narva culture, the Pit-Comb Ware culture, the Yamnaya culture, the Corded Ware culture, and the Fatyanovo-Balanovo culture. The Bronze Age saw the rise of the Scythians and the Sarmatians, while the 1st century AD marked the arrival of the Slavic tribes, who laid the foundation for the modern Russian nation.