The music industry has in recent years witnessed tremendous growth especially following the advancement of technology and globalization of trade. The history of music dates back to the dark ages and has transformed itself over the years and its effect on society is currently being felt far and wide. This paper will discuss the history of music about the timeline and its effect on people and music. The history of music Medieval Era This is the earliest time when music was composed also referred to as the middle age, characterized by the dominance of the Christian church which was the main influence of social life, learning, and work of art. It is also the period following the collapse of the Roman Empire, mostly regarded as the primitive era when the first monophonic notation codified by Saint Gregory was developed, which came to be called Gregory Chant (Sherrane para. 1). Being a time when society was beginning to move away from naivety, determination led to the birth of polyphonic melody which was more rhythmic and pleasing to the listener. Although this era may not be significantly considered to have influenced the current state of music, it is the source of secular music that was preferred then due to its stylistic rhythm and notation. Moreover, only a few of the composers of this music have been recorded in history. Indeed, the only genres of music at the time were plain songs, secular music, and polyphony music which is regarded as the best achievement of the birth of music. Renaissance Period As the name suggests (rebirth), this is the era between 1400-1600 AD which is characterized by the awakening of human beings from the dark ages and the time when social life began to take shape. Creativity in the composition of songs was enhanced with both the sacred and secular music gaining popularity with the birth of secular madrigals being the main achievement. The rediscovery of artistic ideals enhanced the use of polyphonic styles to produce music that was more harmonious and imitative thus giving the listener a feeling of organized repertoire. It is during this time that social use of music such as in celebration was being given a facelift. The combination of both instrumentals and vocals brought about rhythms that not only changed the cultural inclinations but also the reforms to the application of art as noted by the contributions made by the then composers Bryd and Josquin. One characteristic difference with the medieval era is the preservation of the history of the development of music. Baroque Age The music of the current generation may be claimed to have stemmed from this era which is characterized by changes in the composition of music to address the emotions and feelings of the listeners and also the advancement in the use of volume, texture, and tone contrast in music. The 1600-1750 period of baroque showed deviation from the prior eras by producing music that was more intense, more melodic, and rhythmic and involved a lot more dancing. Both sacred and secular music was enhanced by the sophistication of instrumentation which included the use of keyboard and brass instruments. The era is also famous for its being the origin of opera and orchestra music both of which are still common today. Unlike the earlie