Umbria has been, for a long time, a territory specifically chosen by Man to live and prosper in. Numerous archaeological finds dating back to the Palaeolithic and Neolithic period (today exhibited, mainly in the Archaeological Museum of Perugia) reveal the presence in Umbria of organised human settlements since prehistoric time.

The first historical documents that mention Umbria are dated 1000 b.C. when the Oscan-Umbrian tribe occupied the Region. This tribe, which dominated a vast area of Central Italy, established, in Umbria, the first nucleus of the cities today called: Otricoli, Amelia, Terni, Narni, Todi, Marsciano, Spoleto, Nocera, Foligno, Assisi, Bettona, Gualdo Tadino, Gubbio, Città di Castello.

Soon, other groups, attracted by the presence of an advanced civilisation, wanted to capture an area for themselves within the Region.

The Etruscans arrived from the West, occupying a vast territory of Umbria, especially, the area to the right side of the Tiber - the river that crosses vertically and centrally the Region. The Etruscans were a very civilised population and their presence deeply influenced the political, social, economic and cultural structure in Umbria.

The cities that were conquered or founded by the Etruscans, were soon developed and organised into advanced autonomous city-states and connected amongst themselves by federation agreements. Today, Perugia, Orvieto, Città della Pieve and many other Umbrian cities still preserve a recognisable Etruscan urban structure, which can be identified among other things, by the method used in constructing the city along the side of the road, which in turn followed the ridge of the hills and not around a square (preferred by the Romans).

The expansion of Rome (III cent. b.C.) causes the fall of the Etruscan civilisation. The Romans definitively defeated the Etruscans and their allies in the battle of Sentino (295 b.C.) and seized control of Umbria. After the victory, Rome transforms many cities in colonies and in 90 b.C. the Umbrians are granted Roman citizenship with all the privileges reserved to "Roman Civitas".

Under Roman rule, Umbria lives a long period of peace, and economic and cultural prosperity. Important public works and buildings were carried out: roads, aqueducts, theatres, villas and whole cities. Today, many of these works are still well preserved and some theatres (like the ones in Spoleto and Gubbio) are still used for summer performances.

The fall of the Roman Empire sees Umbria, as well as all of Italy, invaded and devastated by the Barbarians who decimate the population. However, after the fall of the Roman Empire, Umbria showed signs of being a fertile terrain for the growth of a new civilisation: Christianity.

In the 4th century, twenty-one dioceses were already present in Umbria, where the bishops became the cultural and spiritual focal point of the local population. The first Christian churches were constructed in this period. The bishops also assumed the responsibility of government and came to be recognised as the natural religious and civil leaders by the population.

The vacuum in political power and the social and economic confusion caused by the continuing wars between the Barbarians and the Byzantines lasted for a long period of time. The battles were bloody, the plague and other disasters continued to increase and consequently the economy of the Region was reduced to poverty. In 522, when the Byzantines defeat the Goths, Umbria finally entered a brief period of tranquillity.

Soon after, the Longobards arrived, seizing a vast area of eastern Umbria where they established the Duchy of Spoleto. The western area of Umbria (with Perugia as the centre and with the territories of the cities of Amelia, Narni, Todi, Bettona, Gubbio, Orte and Orvieto) continued, on the other hand, to remain under Byzantine rule and were controlled by the Exarchate of Ravenna.

The Duchy of Spoleto survived, even after the decline of the longobard rule, by using the autonomy developed under its rule to prosper civilly and economically. The Duchy of Spoleto and the Umbro-Byzantine territories, donated by Pippin the Short and Charlemagne, became possessions of the Church.

The authority of the Church of Rome consolidated itself after the fall of the Empire of Charlemagne and Umbria became part of the Papal State.

The period of the city-republics, in Umbria, began in the XI century, like in all Europe.

After the year 1000, Umbria experienced a rapid demographic and economic explosion. Commercial trade increased and the merchants and the artisans acquired a position of prominence. Whilst the economy flourished again, each municipality drew up its own Constitution and the urban lay-out was enriched by buildings and monuments that today still characterise the appearance of many Umbrian cities.

The history of this period is also marked by conflicts, with uncertain and teetering results, between the Guelphs (supporters of the supremacy of the Papal State) and the Ghibellines (supporters of the Imperial supremacy). In spite of the battles between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, the cultural, artistic and economic vitality of Umbria continued to flourish. In this period, Umbria also experienced a strong spiritual current.

Even during the period of political decline in the XIV century, when Umbria entered definitively in the orbit of the Papal State, Umbria distinguishes itself as one of the liveliest centres in Italy through its various religious movements lead by the numerous Benedictine and Franciscan monasteries, the University of Perugia (founded in 1308) and the great painting school (with its principal Masters Pinturicchio and Perugino).

From the year 1400 to the end of the year 1700, Umbria remained marginal to Italian history. Meanwhile, other cities (like Perugia) continued to be troubled by internal conflicts and various attempts of rebellion against the power of Rome.

In 1860, with the forming of the Italian State, the history of Umbria is integrated with the history of the Italian State and the Region assumes its present day characteristics.