Estonia's history spans over 10,000 years — from prehistoric settlement, through German, Russian, Soviet rule, to independence 1918, re-independence 1991, and modern Estonia.
Prehistoric Estonia (8000 BC - 1200 AD)
First inhabitants after Ice Age ~8000 BC. Finno-Ugric tribes settled Estonia. Viking Age trading ports. Estonians were Europe's last pagans.
German Order State (1200-1561)
Northern Crusades 1208-1227 — German Knights (Brothers of the Sword) conquered Estonia. German nobility ruled peasantry. Hanseatic cities Tallinn, Tartu, Narva flourished.
Swedish Era (1561-1710)
Livonian War 1558-1583 — Sweden took Northern Estonia, Poland Southern. 1629 Sweden got all Estonia. "Good Swedish Time" — University of Tartu founded 1632, peasant treatment improved.
Russian Empire (1710-1917)
Great Northern War 1700-1721 — Peter the Great defeated Sweden. Estonia became part of Russian Empire for 200 years. German barons continued local rule. Serfdom abolished 1816 (before Russia proper). National awakening mid-19th century.
Independence (1918-1940)
February 24, 1918 — Estonian Declaration of Independence. War of Independence 1918-1920 against Russian Reds and German Freikorps. Konstantin Päts first president. Land reform 1919 — baron lands distributed to peasants.
Soviet Occupation (1940-1991)
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 1939 — Estonia in Soviet sphere. Occupation June 1940. German occupation 1941-1944. Soviet reconquest 1944 — second occupation began. Mass deportations 1941 and 1949 — tens of thousands sent to Siberia.
Re-Independence (1991-today)
Singing Revolution 1988-1991. August 20, 1991 — re-independence. NATO and EU member 2004. Euro 2011. World's most digital country — e-Estonia, 99% services online. 1.3 million inhabitants.