According to this Passage, the umbrella was probably first invented [originaltex

To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains. But actually me umbrella was not invented as protection against rain. Its first use was as a shade against the sun!
    Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times. Probably the first to use it were the Chinese, as early as the elevendi century B.C.
    In Europe, the Greeks were me first to use me umbrella as a sunshade. And the umbrella was in common use in ancient Greece. But it is believed tiiat the first persons in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans.
    During the Middle Ages, die use of me umbrella practically disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in die late sixteenth century. And again it was considered a symbol of power and autfiority. By 1680, me umbrella appeared in France, and later on in England.
    By the eighteenth century, the umbrella was used against rain thoughout most of Europe.Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. It wasn’t until me twentieth century mat women’s umbrellas began to be made, in a whole variety of colours.