The history of glass bead making proves that man has been using glass beads since ancient times. There is enough evidence that there were many sophisticated methods, including core formed and wound, as early as 2340-2180 BC in Mesopotamia and the Caucasus region (Russia) to make glass beads. The complicated mosaic methods were developed a little later around 1500 BC. In Nuzi (130 miles north of Baghdad) over 11,000 beads have been found that date before the site's destruction in 1400 BC.

The Major Eras
Although not really limited to beadmaking, the three major Ancient Glassmaking eras: Egyptian, Roman, Islamic influenced Eastern Mediterranean and later, the most renowned boom in glass bead making was centered in Venice. As each of these cultures developed and prospered, so did their bead and other glass working techniques.

Egyptians
Egyptians have a very significant role in glass beads history. It is believed that the Egyptians first used faience, a glazed fused quartz composite but later developed the core, wound and mosaic methods of using glass to make beads and other decorations. They were the first culture to have glass-making guilds. They used glass to imitate precious stones, such as the highly desired lapis lazuli and turquoise.

Mediterranean
After the fall of Egypt, there was no one culture clearly holding a monopoly on glass bead making. There is evidence of several cultures, particularly around the Mediterranean, bead production was going on. Phoenicia (now Lebanon) was one of these areas. From 1200 BC to 2 BC, a number of Phoenician beads were made for both local use and explortation. These include the unique core formed "head" beads. These were often exported to other neighboring societies, such as the Etruscans, who used the polychrome glass beads with their own granulated gold beads.

Roman
The Roman period, which is considered to be 100 BC to 400 AD, included all the many glass working centers throughout the Roman empire (what is now Syria, Egypt, Italy, Switzerland, the Rhineland, France and England). However, it probably did not consist of any production actually in Rome itself. Many technologies were both rediscovered and newly invented over this time period. One of the most significant was the invention of the blow pipe. The blow pipe also allowed the artisan to expand a bead (or other glass object) from inside, thereby eliminating the weight and shear amount of glass needed for the core formed methods. So, the Roman period holds an important place in the glass beads history.

Venice
The last glassmaking epoch, took place in Venice. Glass making had been going on in or around Venice throughout this early history. In 1292, the glass factories were relocated to the island of Murano both to reduce risk of fire to the city, and to protect the secrets of creating glass. Due to this concentration, they were able to reinvent many of the earlier methods which had become lost in time. One of these was the hollow cane drawn method which is much faster and thereby cheaper to make many beads with. Venice in this way became associated with the glass beads history.