Is the violin a 16th century instrument?

The violin, as we know it today, was not developed until the 16th century. It is believed to have evolved from earlier instruments such as the rebec and the vielle. The earliest known violins were made in Italy by Andrea Amati and his sons Antonio and Girolamo. These early violins were very different from the modern instrument, with shorter necks, fewer strings, and a more rounded shape.