The document discusses the history and development of microscopy from the 14th century to the late 19th century. It describes how early microscopes used simple lenses and had magnifications between 10x-80x, while Leeuwenhoek achieved up to 300x magnification. The compound microscope was developed in the mid-17th century, improving detail visibility. Later advances included achromatic lenses, oil immersion, and condensers to further enhance resolution. Key optical principles such as refractive index and the factors affecting resolution and its relationship with magnification are also summarized.