The Babylonians created early tables for sine-like values around 1600 BCE to solve problems related to astronomy, making them pioneers in the use of trigonometric concepts.
Hipparchus (circa 190–120 BCE) compiled the first known trigonometric table and developed the foundation for systematic trigonometry in the context of astronomy.
In ancient India, trigonometry was extensively used in astronomy to calculate celestial positions and predict eclipses. Indian mathematicians like Aryabhata and Brahmagupta significantly contributed to trigonometric advancements.
The Almagest, written by Ptolemy (circa 150 CE), contained trigonometric tables and explained the application of trigonometry to celestial mechanics, laying the foundation for future studies.
Regiomontanus (1436–1476) reintroduced trigonometry in Europe during the Renaissance and translated Islamic works into Latin, making concepts like sine and cosine widely accessible.
