Final answer:
Opera originated in Italy around 1600, as part of the Baroque art movement, with the aim of reviving ancient Greek music.
Step-by-step explanation:
The origins of opera can be traced back to Italy around the year 1600. This art form arose in Florence as a part of the wider context of Baroque art, which was burgeoning in Italy during this period. The intention behind the creation of opera was to revive the music of ancient Greece.
Towards the end of the sixteenth century, Italy had become a focal point for musical activity, absorbing influences from the north and cultivating new forms such as opera in the vibrant cultural atmospheres of cities like Venice and Rome. Through this period, with Venetian, Roman and Florentine cities leading, Italy solidified its reputation as the birthplace of opera, under the patronage of the aristocracy and support by the church, encouraging its growth and the development of this distinctive art form.