History

A windwheel operating an organ is described as early as the 1st century AD by Hero of Alexandria, marking probably the first instance of a wind powering machine in history.[1][2] Vertical axle windmills were first used in eastern Persia (Sistan) by the 9th century AD as described by Muslim geographers.[3] Horizontal axle windmills of the type generally used today were invented in Northwestern Europe in the 1180s.[4]