Optical foundations History of the telescope

optical diagram showing light being refracted spherical glass container full of water, roger bacon, de multiplicatione specierum.

objects resembling lenses date 4000 years although unknown if used optical properties or decoration. greek accounts of optical properties of water filled spheres (5th century bc) followed many centuries of writings on optics, including ptolemy (2nd century) in optics, wrote properties of light including reflection, refraction, , color, followed ibn sahl (10th century) , ibn al-haytham (11th century).

actual use of lenses dates widespread manufacture , use of eyeglasses in northern italy beginning in late 13th century. invention of use of concave lenses correct near-sightedness ascribed nicholas of cusa in 1451.