Kurdistan is the homeland of the Kurds, an Indo-European-speaking people. The Kurds are descendants of two main racial groups: the Pre-Indo-European peoples (such as the Gutians, Lulluians, Khurrians, and Kassites) and the Indo-European peoples, notably the Medes.

The Pre-Indo-European peoples, who spoke a distinct language known as Asiatic or Caucasian, appeared in the region during the third millennium B.C. and remained until the first millennium B.C. The migration of the Medes and other Indo-European groups began in the early second millennium B.C.

Kurdistan was home to significant ancient kingdoms, such as the Mittanian Kingdom in northern Kurdistan. The Mittanians, an Indo-European ruling class, dominated the Khurrians, an ancient Asiatic people. The Mittanian Kingdom played an important role in the politics of the time, engaging in both warfare and diplomacy with the Pharaohs, Hittites, and Kassites. The Kassites, who inhabited southern Kurdistan, conquered Mesopotamia in the 17th century B.C. and ruled for over four centuries.

The Medes later became a powerful force, helping to bring down the Assyrian Empire in 612 B.C., but their empire was eventually lost to the Persian king Cyrus in the 6th century B.C. After this, no major kingdoms were established in Kurdistan; the region became a battleground for the armies of various empires.

Ancient Kurds practiced paganism, but after the teachings of Zoroaster (Zarathustra), they gradually adopted Zoroastrianism, which evolved into fire worship over time. Christianity had limited influence, with Syrian Christians being the main Christian community in Kurdistan. Today, the majority of Kurds are Muslims, and they have made significant contributions to Islamic civilization.