The History of Austria 13THROUGHOUT ITS LONG HISTORY, Austria has often been right at
the centre of events in Europe, not only politically but also
in the arts and sciences. Living in Austria, one is constantly
reminded of its glorious past. Having a sense of this history
helps in understanding the Austrians of today.
Early History
Present-day Austria has been inhabited since prehistoric
times. The Venus of Willendorf, a remarkable 20,000-year-
old figurine in the shape of a woman symbolising fertility,
was unearthed in the Wachau valley. As early as 2000 BC, the
area was populated by the Illyrians, early Iron Age miners
who reached a high degree of civilisation between 1700 and
700 BC. The Celts were next to populate the area and remained
until the first century BC. Their kingdom, known as Noricum,
thrived on salt mined from the Salzkammergut and iron ore
from the Styrian mountains. The Celts were the first to settle
in present-day Vienna, which they called Vindobona.
Vienna became an important settlement thanks to its
location. The Amber Route, which ran from the Adriatic
Sea to the Baltic, crossed the Danube River here. Bronze
weapons and pottery from the south and amber and whale
tusks from the north were traded along the route. By the year
15 BC, the Romans had extended their realm into the region,
establishing a military camp on the banks of the Danube at
present-day Vienna that was to stand for 400 years. Other