The Romans were the first to invent the mirror. In Mesopotamia mirrors coated with copper were manufactured as early as 4000 BC, in Egypt from around 3000 Bc and in China from around 2000 Bc. Metal-coated mirrors were invented in sidon, Lebanon in the 1st century AD. Romans also made mirrors by pouring molten lead over blown glass. The history of mirrors dates back to the time when people used to see their reflection in ponds and lakes. Eventually they came up with the idea of making mirrors out of glass and metals.