The Estonians belong to the Finno-Ugrian family of nations. For more than two thousand years they have been living on the shores of the Baltic, in the territory inhabited by them at present. Agriculture, trade and seafaring became their main occupations and in the early centuries of our era they seem to have attained a prominent position in the Eastern Baltic. Important trade routes passed through their country along which came traders from abroad. On the other hand, they themselves often visited foreign lands, especially Scandinavia, across the Baltic. They thus came into frequent contact with other nations. (Foreword, fragment)