The Invention of Eyeglasses in Venice: How the City Changed the Way the World Sees
Every day, millions of people around the world reach for their eyeglasses without giving it a second thought. Yet this simple tool that corrects vision and enables us to read, work, and navigate daily life has a remarkable origin story rooted in medieval Venice. The invention of eyeglasses represents one of humanity's most transformative innovations, and Venice played a crucial role in bringing this technology to the world. Venice in the late 13th century was uniquely positioned to pioneer early optical instruments. The city's dominance in trade, its unparalleled glassmaking tradition, and its access to scholarly knowledge created the perfect conditions for eyeglasses to emerge. This article explores how Venetian craftsmen and Murano glassmakers revolutionized human vision, transformed literacy and learning, and spread optical innovation throughout Europe and beyond. Venice in the Late 13th Century: A Hub of Trade, Craft, and Innovation During the late 1200s, Venice stood...
