The History of Sunglasses
Most people know that sunglasses are a big part of the fashion industry today. But what is the real story? The origin can be traced back to ancient civilizations where hunters and gatherers used a type of sunglasses to protect themselves from reflections on water and snow. The protection was not achieved through a tinted lens but by creating a narrow frame out of wood or bone. In the 12th century (and perhaps even earlier), thinly cut brown quartz was worn by Chinese judges to conceal their identities. Although the sunglasses did not provide any UV protection, they did offer them the opportunity to conceal their emotions in front of their witnesses. Another model was used by actors in ancient...