Although there are no artifacts or records dating back to the Stone Age, it is believed that the first settlers in Bali migrated from China around 2500 BC. By the Bronze era, around 300 BC, quite an evolved culture existed in Bali. The complex system of irrigation and rice production, still in use today, was established around this time. For the first few centuries, Anno Domini, history is vague. Although Hindu artifacts have been found dating back to the 1st century, the main religion, around 500 AD, was predominantly Buddhist in influence. A Chinese scholar, Yi-Tsing, in 670 AD reported on a trip to India, that he had visited a Buddhist country called Bali.

It wasn’t until the 11th century that Bali received the first strong influx Hindu and Javanese cultures. With the death of his father around AD 1011, the Balinese Prince, Airlanggha, moved to East Java and set about uniting it under one principality. Having succeeded, he then appointed his brother, Anak Wung-su, as Ruler of Bali. During the ensuing period there was a reciprocation of political and artistic ideas. The old Javanese language, Kawi, became the language used by the aristocracy, as well as one of the many Javanese traits and customs adopted by the cause