The lecture gives an overview about the Early Iron Age (8th to 5th century BC) between Eastern France in the West and the Carpathian Basin in the East, and between the Central Highlands in the North and Upper Italy in the South. The lecture will focus on the development of the material culture, on grave rituals, settlement types and social structures including the emergence of Early Iron Age elites. The influences from the mediterranean South (Greeks and Etruscans) as well as from the steppes in the East (Scythians) will be discussed as well close