The piano originated in Italy in the early 18th century and was invented by the instrumentalist Bartolomeo Cristofori. Based on the plucked harpsichord, he innovatively used a hammering device to enable the instrument to control the volume intensity through the force of his fingers, solving the problem of insufficient volume control of the harpsichord. This design laid the foundation for the modern piano, which was initially called the "harpsichord with strong and weak notes" (Fortepiano), which was later simplified to "piano" (Piano). From the late 18th to the 19th century, the piano quickly became popular in Europe. The German manufacturer Gottfried Silbermann improved the string structure so that the piano could be played in quick succession; the French manufacturer focused on improving the quality of the soundboard and optimizing the timbre. During the Romantic period of the 19th century, the piano became the core of music creation and performance, and composers such as Mozart and Beethoven created a large number of classic works for it. After the 20th century, piano manufacturing technology was globalized, and countries such as the United States, Japan, and China became major producers. Brands such as Steinway, Yamaha, and Pearl River pianos are world-renowned.