This chapter provides a comprehensive historical overview of healthcare simulation, tracing its origins from ancient China to the aviation industry’s influence in the early 1900s. Pivotal moments in medical simulation evolution, including the development of wax anatomical models and Resusci Annie and SIM one mannequins, are highlighted. Moving to the contemporary landscape, the chapter defines healthcare simulation as a methodology for practice, learning, and system evaluation, emphasizing its role in developing essential cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills for healthcare professionals. The multifaceted purposes of simulation, advantages such as improved patient safety, and limitations like cost and fidelity are explored. The chapter concludes by previewing subsequent sections that will delve into effective strategies for simulation-based education, underscoring its critical role in modern medical education and practice.