The hunters of the early stone age were the first inhabitants of Bali. Probably related to the famous 'Java Man', who inhabited the archipelago while Europe lay under the ice age, they were probably among the first human inhabitans of the world.

Much later began the countless migrations from the Asian mainland which periodically washed over Indonesia. With them came the first ancestors of modern Indonesians and the cultures of the stone and iron ages. By 1500 BC, migrants from Southern India had introduced to Bali an elementery agricultural society based on village units, and by the Bronze Age (300BC - AD 100) the island was already well populated.

With Hinduism came the concept of kingship, and small scattered communities were gradually welded into larger and larger kingdoms.

The impact of Hindu Java on Bali came later, but has proved enduring. Because of a dynastic link connecting Bali with rulers of the kingdom of East Java in the eleventh century, Javanese culture permeated Bali. In the following centuries, as ruler succeeded ruler, the island enjoyed an era of relative peace autonomy which ended when Kerthanegara, the storngest prince of the Javanese Singhasari dynasty, became king.

Kerthanegara imprisoned the last member of the Balinese royal house and assumed control over Bali from his court in Java. But his triumph was short lived. Withon a few years, he was dead and his kingdom was absorbed in the raise of mightiest empire Indonesia have yet seen, the Majapahit dynasty.

Often described as golden age of Indonesia, the fortheenth and fifhteen centuries saw the spread of Majapahit influence until extends over almost all territory known as Indinesia today.

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