Who made the windmill?

While it's uncertain who specifically invented the windmill, the earliest windmills known to exist were used by the Persians in A.D. 500 to A.D. 900 and by the Chinese in A.D. 1200. These early windmills were used to power grain mills and water pumps. read more

Made of six to 12 sails covered in reed matting or cloth material, these windmills were used to grind grain or draw up water, and were quite different from the later European vertical windmills. Windmills were in widespread use across the Middle East and Central Asia, and later spread to China and India from there. read more

This was the first time wind had been used to power a machine in history! The first practical windmills (similar to windmills found today) were built by the Persians sometime during the 9th century. Persian geographer Estakhri noted the invention of windmills. read more