| type="text/javascript"> | | | | believe determining a specific time of musical |
| A musical instrument is constructed or is used for | | | | instrument invention is impossible due to the |
| the purpose of making different sounds related to | | | | subjectivity of the definition. |
| music. According to old belief anything that | | | | Musical instruments are developed independently in |
| produces sound can serve as a musical | | | | many populated regions of the world. However, |
| instrument. The history of musical instruments | | | | contact among civilizations resulted in the rapid |
| dates back to the beginnings of human culture. | | | | spread and adaptation of most instruments in |
| The academic study of musical instruments is | | | | places far from their origin. By the Middle Ages, |
| called organology. | | | | instruments from Mesopotamia could be found in |
| The date and origin of the first device of disputed | | | | the Malay Archipelago and Europeans were playing |
| status as a musical instrument dates back as far | | | | instruments from North Africa. Development in |
| as 67,000 years old; artifacts commonly accepted | | | | the America occurred at a slower pace, but |
| to be early flutes date back as far as about | | | | cultures of North, Central, and South America |
| 37,000 years old. However, most historians | | | | shared musical instruments. |