Final answer:
The microscope was invented over four hundred years ago by Zacharias Janssen and his son Hans, two Dutch spectacle makers. It eventually led to major advancements in the field of biology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The microscope was invented over four hundred years ago by Zacharias Janssen and his son Hans, two Dutch spectacle makers. They discovered that nearby objects appeared greatly enlarged, or magnified, when viewed through a tube containing several lenses. This invention eventually led to major advancements in the field of biology, as it opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. The development of more advanced microscopes in the 19th and 20th centuries improved magnification, resolution, and contrast, leading to further discoveries in microscopy.