Here's a breakdown of key historical developments:
* Ancient Origins: Ancient Greek and Roman works like "The Odyssey" and "The Satyricon" show elements of narrative structure and character development that prefigure the novel.
* Medieval Period: The development of prose writing in the Middle Ages, particularly in Romance languages, laid the groundwork for the novel form.
* Renaissance and Early Modern Era: This period saw the rise of long, prose narratives in Italian and Spanish, with notable works like "Don Quixote" (Cervantes) and "The Prince" (Machiavelli).
* 18th Century: The English novel truly took shape with authors like Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, and Henry Fielding. These authors explored themes of social life, individual experience, and morality, establishing conventions of characterization, plot, and setting that continue to influence the form.
Therefore, it's more accurate to say that the novel emerged through a gradual process of evolution, influenced by numerous writers and cultures throughout history. It's not a single invention but rather a product of continuous literary development.