[5] Some sources suggest it derives from the Slavic language "ta rola" meaning "this land, farming terrain/farming ground."

The same cave has also yielded evidence of human occupation during the Bronze Age (very roughly, 4000–3000 BP (2000–1000 BC)).

In 1991, the mummified remains of a man who had died around 3300–3100 BC were discovered in a glacier in the Ötztal Alps, in Tyrol.

The Romans constructed metaled roads guarded by forts through Tyrol to connect the Italian peninsula and the lands beyond; notably the Via Claudia Augusta and the Via Raetia [de].

The Lombards established the Duchy of Tridentum (or, Trent; roughly corresponding to modern Trentino) and lower parts of south Tyrol.

[10] In 1027, Emperor Conrad II, in order to secure the important route through the Brenner Pass, allotted the left bank of the Adige (from Lana to Mezzocorona) to the Duchy of Bavaria.

They displaced competing nobles like the House of Eppan [de], and declared their independence from the Duchy of Bavaria; though not without dispute.

The various dynastic squabbles were resolved that same year by the Treaty of Schärding [de], under which (for suitable compensation) the Wittelsbachs agreed to relinquish their claims to Tyrol in favour of the Habsburgs.

However, the Unterinntal downstream from Schwaz still belonged to Bavaria; the Zillertal and Brixental to Salzburg; Brixen and the Pustertal were episcopal territories, or part of the County of Gorizia.

In 1406, as the Habsburg lands were split up by inheritance, Tyrol once again became a separate entity (a Landstand), in which the greater landowners had the right to be consulted (Mitspracherecht).

Tyrol's importance for the Habsburgs was underlined when the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck became a centre of European politics and culture as Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I took up residence there.

The Tyroleans, led by Andreas Hofer, fought mainly as mobile sharpshooters, but despite their success, Austria's defeat in the wider War of the Fifth Coalition confirmed Bavarian rule in Tyrol, but with southern Tyrol (roughly contemporary Trentino with Bozen and its hinterland) transferred to Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy.

Integrated into the Austrian Empire, from 1867 onwards, it was a Kronland (crown land) of Cisleithania, the western half of Austria-Hungary.

Italy thus took control of the strategically important Alpine water divide at the Brenner Pass and over the south of Tyrol proper with its large German-speaking majority.

Horses also play an increasingly important role in livestock, for equestrian sports and farm holidays.

Due to the connection of the areas by the railway in the 19th century, many villages in Tyrol developed into popular tourism locations.

Today, Merano, Kitzbühel, Cortina or Riva del Garda are among the most important tourism destinations in the Alpine region.

[26] This means that two times more trucks travel on the Brenner Route than in all four Alpine crossing roads in Switzerland together.

Important road section in Trentino, next to the Brenner motorway, is the SS 47 (Strada Statale 47), which connects via Sugana Valley Trento with Padova.

With the construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel and its completion in 2027, transit traffic on the rail will be promoted and relocated.

The aim is to shift traffic through the Alps to sustainable means of transport, thus protecting the Alpine environment.

[32] Many villages and communities are difficult to reach because of the large differences in altitude, so the region sets much on ropeway concepts.

These include dishes such as goulash, Kaiserschmarrn and apple strudel which are consumed in large parts of the Danube monarchy and today still in Tyrol.

Schlutzkrapfen, boiled dumplings or cold cuts with bacon (in German: Speck) or grey cheese is eaten on the farms.

[35][36] The Tyrolean Rifles were a militia organized in case of an attack on crown land, which required Tyrol to defend its territory.

The militia consisted mostly of citizens and peasants who were responsible only for the defence of their own land and were not obliged to go to war on behalf of the Habsburg monarchy.

Today, the Rifles are responsible as an organization for the preservation of the Tyrolean culture and are always present at important political events in Tyrol.

The club celebrated the biggest international successes by winning the Alpenliga, the EBEL and the Six Nations Tournament with Jaromír Jágr.

Since the season 2017/18 the club plays in the German volleyball league under the name "Hypo Tirol Alpenvolleys Haching".

The Alpine Skiing World Cup is held in Kitzbühel, Val Gardena, Cortina and Madonna di Campiglio.