In which musical era was counterpoint invented?

Counterpoint, which refers to the relationship between voices that are harmonically interdependent yet musically independent, was developed prominently during the Renaissance, but it significantly evolved during the Baroque era. In the Renaissance, composers began to experiment with polyphony, where multiple independent melodies were woven together. However, it was in the Baroque period that counterpoint became more refined and formally codified, with composers like Johann Sebastian Bach exemplifying its use through intricate polyphonic textures, particularly in forms like the fugue.

In the Medieval era, while there were beginnings of polyphonic texture, the concept of counterpoint as understood in later periods was not fully realized. The Classical era saw a shift towards homophony, where a single melody is accompanied by chords, rather than the complex interweaving of independent melodic lines characteristic of counterpoint. Therefore, recognizing the Baroque era as the time when counterpoint reached its artistic peak highlights its development and application in Western music history.