What is the origin of clapping after a performance?

Clapping as a form of applause is believed to have originated in ancient Greece and Rome. In these civilizations, audiences would clap their hands, stomp their feet, and even shout to show their appreciation for a performance. Clapping was seen as a way to express enthusiasm and approval, and it was considered to be a social norm. Over time, the practice of clapping as applause spread to other parts of the world and eventually became the standard form of applause that we know today.