The territory of Tuva began to be inhabited 100-40 thousand years B.C. In bronze epoch people started to breed cattle, to produce weapon made of copper and bronze. Rock paintings of that period are equal in portraying skill to the best examples of the world rock paintings.

Scientists are especially interested in a historical period from VIII to III centuries B.C. During that period the territory of Tuva and its tribes were a part of so called "the Siberian-Scythian peace treaty". This fact was proved by the results of archaeological dig carried out in Turan-Uyukskaya basin (Arjaan 1 and Arjaan 2 burial mounds).

In the 1^st century Tuva was inhabited by the tribes which were related to the Huns. In VI-VIII centuries the country was included in the territory of the Turkic Empire, which was then invaded by the Uygurs. In 840 the Uygur Empire was destroyed by Kyrgyz tribes. Kyrgyz tribes then mixed with local tribes and formed the base of the Tuvinian ethnos. The territory of Tuva was a part of Yeniseisk Kyrgyz state until 1207. Later it was conquered by the eldest son of Genghis-Khan Zhuqi.

During the period of XIII-XIV centuries the country was ruled by Yuan dynasty which also ruled China. In XVII century Tuva was conquered by the Dzungars, which in their turn were conquered by Manchu people in 1757. The country was under the supervision of Qin dynasty in 1757-1912.

In March of 1918 the soviet authority was established on the territory of Tuva. In 1918-1921 a lot of different political powers were struggling against each other here. In 1921 the People's Republic of Tuva was founded. The capital of the republic was Kyzyl.

By the year of 1931 all local tuvinian feudal lords were eliminated. Their land was given to collective farms.

In 1944 Tuva was included in USSR as an autonomous region. This status was changed to an autonomous republic in 1961.

After the USSR has collapsed in 1991 Tuva Republic became a part of the Russian Federation.

Nowadays there are many new investment programs carried out on the territory of the republic. The government plans to build a special tourist zone and the first railroad in Tuva.