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In Spain a dulcimer-like instrument is depicted on a cathedral relief from 1184 A.D.
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It flourished for centuries later in the music of Bach.
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It is a small harpsichord with keys at right angles to a single set of strings.
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In about 1710, Bartolomeo Cristofori built several instruments in harpsichord shape but with hummer mechanisms surprisingly like the modern piano action.
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Cristafori's new instrument was named gravicembalo col piano e forte( roughly "soft and loud keybord instrument").
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Jean Marius submits hammer-keyboard designs to Royal Academy of Science, paris
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The square piano originated in efforts of German builders to adapt Cristofori's piano-forte to the traditional rectangular shape of the clavichord.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano)
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soft piano pedals were invented
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sustain piano pedals were invented.
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Broadwood makes a 6-octave grand for the Queen of Spain, London(https://www.piano-tuners.org/history/history_1.htm)
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In 1800 the first satisfactory uprights were invented independently by Hawkins of Philadelphia and Mueller of Vienna.(http://pianonet.com/all-about-pianos/history-of-the-piano/)
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During the 18th century piano builders gradually extended the keyboard, using constantly heavier hammers and strings that required increased strengthening of the fame.(http://www.all-about-pianos.com/history-of-the-piano.html)
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Erard Brothers of Paris present Beethoven with a piano
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First successful use of metal in grand piano frame by Thom and Allen, London(http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/piano.htm)
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The oustanding improvements were the double-repetition action of Sebastien Erard.
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Erard makes a 7-octave piano(http://www.ptg.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=109&MenuKey=Menu9)
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Welte-Mignon invents a player-piano mechanism, Freiburg, Germany
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this form reached its peak in a period of Bach and Handel.
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THought originally in Italy and was perfected by English buildres.
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Modern technology (new glues, better control of woods, stronger wire, new manufacturing processes, etc.) has enabled the modern piano to become the most used and and versatile of all musical instruments.
