* Around 5th century BC: The basic principle behind the camera, the *camera obscura*, was known in ancient times. The concept of a dark room with a small hole projecting an inverted image of the outside world was described by Chinese philosopher Mozi and later by Aristotle.
* 11th century: Arab scholar Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) made significant advancements in understanding optics and light, further developing the principles of the camera obscura.
* 16th century: The camera obscura was refined with lenses to improve image quality and brightness. It was used as a drawing aid by artists.
* Early 19th century: The crucial step of capturing and fixing the image chemically was achieved.
* 1826: Nicéphore Niépce created the oldest surviving photograph, "View from the Window at Le Gras," using a process called heliography.
* 1837: Louis Daguerre invented the daguerreotype, a more practical and detailed photographic process. This is often considered the birth of practical photography.
* 1888: George Eastman introduced the Kodak camera, making photography accessible to the general public. His slogan was, "You press the button, we do the rest."
So, there's no single answer to when the camera was invented. You could argue for:
* Ancient times for the concept of the camera obscura.
* Early 19th century for the invention of chemical photography.
* Mid-19th century for practical photography.
* Late 19th century for cameras that were widely accessible.