Here's why:
* Shift from chivalry to realism: Don Quixote broke away from traditional chivalric romances and embraced a more realistic portrayal of human nature and society.
* Focus on the individual: The novel centers on the internal struggles and psychological complexities of its protagonist, Don Quixote, who is both a dreamer and a fool.
* Exploration of themes: Don Quixote delves into universal themes like idealism vs. reality, sanity vs. madness, and the power of storytelling.
* Influence on later writers: The novel's innovative style and themes profoundly influenced later European novelists, including authors like Daniel Defoe, Henry Fielding, and Jane Austen.
While other novels like "The Tale of Genji" and "The Decameron" existed before Don Quixote, they lacked the same impact and influence on the development of the novel as a genre.
Don Quixote's groundbreaking approach to storytelling and its lasting legacy solidify its position as a landmark work that ushered in the modern European novel.