460-370 BC: Hippocrates describes a condition that he calls "anemia."
1658: Jan Swammerdam observes red blood cells under the microscope.
1661: Marcello Malpighi observes red blood cells in frog lungs.
1852: Karl Vierordt and H. Welcher discover that anemia is caused by a deficiency of iron.
Early 20th century: Scientists discover that anemia can be caused by a variety of factors, including iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, and sickle cell disease.
Today: Anemia is a well-understood condition with effective treatments available.