The guitar boasts a rich history stretching back millennia. Its lineage can be traced to ancient stringed instruments like the Greek kithara and the Arabic oud. Over centuries, these early forms evolved, with key developments occurring in Spain during the Renaissance, where the "vihuela" emerged as a significant precursor. By the 17th and 18th centuries, the baroque guitar, often with five courses of strings, gained popularity. The modern classical guitar, with its six single strings, took shape in the 19th century, notably through the innovations of Antonio de Torres Jurado. The 20th century witnessed an explosion of new designs, from the resonant archtop to the ground-breaking electric guitar, forever changing the landscape of popular music.