The Scythians were Iranian equestrian tribes that emerged between the 7th century BC and 4th century AD inhabited large areas of the Eurasian steppe. In fact, it is a designation of a variety of peoples and cultures in the steppe zone. They span different periods and were known by different names. Historically known peoples such as the Sarmatians, Massagetae and Saks fall under this heading. Sources often do not make a clear distinction. The Ancient Greeks spoke of "Scythia". They did make a distinction between west and east of the Imaus (= Pamir-Tian Shan chain). Specifically, they spoke of the Pontic Scythians, who lived in the Pontic-Caspian Steppe, north of the Black Sea. These Scythians were later driven out by the Sarmatians.

Scythian history is divided into three periods. The Pre-Scythian period (9th to mid-7th century BC) In Europe, this period is mainly associated with the Cimmerians.

The Early Scythian period (7th century BC and 6th century BC) sees the Scythians invade the Caucasus from the north of the Black Sea. The kingdoms dominated on the base of subjugation of the agricultural population, plunder, and taxes (sometimes as far as the region of Syria). They regularly paid tribute as gifts and possibly payments for military support (Neo-Assyrian Empire). After they were defeated and driven from the Near East, in the first half of the 6th century BC, the Scythians were to retake the land north of the Black Sea. In the second half of that century, the Scythians were able to dominate the agricultural tribes of the steppe. Their state was reconstructed, and they reached a peak.

The privileged status of trade with the Greeks stimulated the sedimentation and social development of Scythia during the Classic Scythian Period (5th century BC to 4th century BC). The proximity of the Greek city-states to the Black Sea coast was an incentive for slavery in their society. The sale of slaves only happened in one direction. They sold slaves to the Greeks, instead of using them in their own society. Capturing slaves in their wars was a major commercial driver.

During the classical Scythian period, the Scythian noble nomads abandoned their nomadic way of life. They retained their power over the agricultural population. The hostility of the Scythians against Greek settlements in the northern Black Sea increased. The Scythian king regarded the Greek colonies as an unnecessary middleman in the wheat trade with mainland Greece. Later Scythia was less developed, both culturally and socio-economically than their Greek neighbors. At the end of the 2nd century BC, the Scythians were defeated by the Parthians.

Scythia was the first state to collapse with the invasion of the Goths in the 2nd century AD. Scythian influences have been identified as far as Korea and Japan.