Glass is a silicate product that humans have been using for a long time. According to archaeological data, the production technology of glass first appeared in the Mesopotamian region around 3000 BC to 2000 BC. Initially, glass was obtained by cooling magma erupted from volcanoes. Subsequently, it was discovered that glass can be made by heating quartz sand (mainly composed of silica) and alkaline substances such as soda.

Around the 10th century BC, ancient Greece and Rome became the centers of glass technology, and the technology of making glass gradually spread to countries along the Mediterranean coast. The origin of Chinese glass was relatively late, around the late Shang Dynasty, when Chinese ancestors had already mastered glass manufacturing technology. Early glass products mainly consisted of glass beads, glass decorations, and simple glassware, with colored glass being the main component.

In the Han Dynasty, China's glass manufacturing industry developed, with the emergence of lead glass and sodium calcium glass, which were used in palace architecture and noble jewelry. During the Han Dynasty, there was an increase in communication between China and the West, and glass technology may also have been exchanged and developed in this process.

In the Song Dynasty, China's glass manufacturing industry was very developed, capable of producing various shapes and specifications of glass products, and began to use machinery to manufacture glassware, improving production efficiency. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, China's glass manufacturing industry further developed, not only in terms of technology, but also in terms of variety and scope of use.

In summary, the origin of glass can be traced back to the ancient civilization period. After a long period of development and technological dissemination, the production technology of glass has made great progress, and glass products have become ubiquitous in daily life, playing an important role.