The following is an overview of the key milestones in the history of rock climbing from its origins in late 19th-century Europe. It covers the sub-disciplines of rock climbing: single-pitch climbing (traditional climbing and sport climbing), big wall climbing (including aid climbing), bouldering, and free soloing (including deep-water soloing). It does not cover mountaineering, and disciplines that involve ice climbing such as alpine climbing (it does include big wall climbing in the Alps), or mixed climbing. Key developments of equipment and techniques are also chronicled.