Belgian history began some hundred thousand years ago with the arrival of the Neanderthal man. He hunted and protected himself with animal skins. Around 20,000 years ago, modern man entered Belgium. In the Mesolithic period (from 9000 B.C.) man combined hunting with gathering. He perfected his tools. Around 2600 B.C. (Neolithic period) agriculture appeared in the regions of Belgium. There were also mining activities (silex mines) at Spiennes in the province of Hainaut. At the same time megalithic monuments were erected in the province of Luxembourg.

The Bronze Age came rather late to Belgium (1600 B.C.). The Iron Age started around the VIIIth century B.C. Before the Romans conquered the region in 57 B.C., Belgium was populated by the Celts. They built defensive fortresses and maintained good relations with the Mediterranean world.

The Romans exterminated some Celtic groups but the establishment of the Pax Romana (Roman peace) had a beneficial effect on the economy. New centres of trade sprang up alongside the newly constructed roads. Christianity slowly began to spread through the Low Countries in the 4th century A.D.. One century later the Franks conquered Belgium and swept away the Roman civilisation together with the first footholds of Christianity.