What is the History of the Microscope?
The history of the microscope is quite long, spanning many different cultures and centuries. It can be difficult to pinpoint the early history of the microscope, simply because what can rightly be considered a microscope is open to some interpretation. Nonetheless, it is a rich and storied history, and can still be seen today in the legacy of physical antique microscopes, which serve as collector’s pieces for many scientists. Early lenses can be found as far back as the 7th century BCE in Assyria, where polished crystals were used. The most famous of these is the so-called Nimrud lens, found at the palace of Nimrud. This lens could very well have been used as a magnifying glass, which is in many ways a simple microscope, or it may have simply been used as a lens to start fires with sunlight. Some people even believe the Nimrud lens was part of a very basic telescope, aiding the Assyrians in their complex understanding of astronomy. In the 10th century, the Islamic scientist Ibn al-Hayt
