The technology that helped in the discovery of cells was the microscope.

Specifically, the compound microscope, which uses multiple lenses to magnify objects, was crucial.

Here's why:

* Magnification: Cells are incredibly small, far too tiny to be seen with the naked eye. The compound microscope provided the necessary magnification to make these structures visible.

* Resolution: The microscope also improved resolution, which means it could distinguish between closely spaced objects. This allowed scientists to see the individual components of cells, like the nucleus and cell wall.

While Robert Hooke, who first observed cells in 1665, used a simple microscope, it was the development of more powerful compound microscopes in the following years that allowed scientists to further explore and understand the complexity of cells.