Leonardo Da Vinci was an Italian polymath, painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer who lived during the Renaissance. Despite facing adversity as an illegitimate child, he became one of the most influential figures in history through his insatiable curiosity and pioneering work in numerous fields. Some of his most notable contributions included advances in anatomy through dissection, conceptualizing evolution centuries before Darwin, and conceiving ideas for modern inventions like tanks, helicopters and parachutes through his detailed technical drawings and notes. He was a true Renaissance man and genius who exemplified remarkable creative thinking and originality ahead of his time.

1. Leonardo Da VinciRenaissance Man, Genius

2. Leonardo Da Vinci
Born in Vinci, Italy, an illegitimate son to a peasant woman and a successful notary, he began his
life facing hardship and obscurity.
With no privilege of a formal education, Da Vinci launched a self-education program.
He grew up in nature, and began to use his keen skill of observation to learn about the world
around him.
He was alive during a tumultuous, yet progressive time for Italy and for the world. Constantinople
had just fallen, ending the Eastern Empire, Gutenburg had just invented the moveable type, Italy
was experiencing political upheaval.
(1452-1519)

3. Background
After spending time in his quaint hometown,
he left Vinci, Italy and continued his pursuit
of knowledge in Milan, Rome, Bolonga,
Venice, and spent his last days in France,
where he supposedly died in the arms of
King Francois I.
While Italy was experiencing political turmoil,
Da Vinci also faced adversity and overcame
the trials which he faced. During his life, he
suffered a stroke, was accused of being
homosexual (which the charges were
dismissed), persecuted by some, for being
left handed, and overcame the stigma of
being an illegitimate son.

4. Scientist
Mathematician
Engineer
Inventor
Anatomist
Painter
Sculptor
Architect
Botanist
Musician
Writer
Accomplishments
of Leonardo Da Vinci
of Leonardo Da Vinci

5. Art
Curious as well as observant, he constantly tried to explain what he saw.
Because he wrote down and sketched so many of his observations, we know that he was among the
very first to take a scientific approach towards understanding how our world works and how we see it

6. War machines from the armored car, firearm with screw elevating gear, machine for stormaing walls, hoist
for lifting cannons, eight barreled organ, automatic igniting device, hull rammer, giant cross bow, ballista
for hurling stones, scythed chariot, split-trail gun carriage, and many more.
Flying machines such as the aerial screw, device for testing beating wings, flying ship, articulated wing,
parachute, anemometer, flapping-wing machine with vertical bearing, wing structure, inclinometer, wing-
beating device with a screw and lead screw system, leaf spring engine for flying machine.
Due to his highly inquisitive nature, Leonardo began hundreds of projects to learn about the world around
him. His projects were ranging from painting to war machine invention, but never brought many of his projects
to completion. Most of his scientific theories and inventions never made it past the notebook stage.
However, the ingenuity of his ideas are still being used today.
Machines

7. More machines
Work machines-Self propelled car, pillar lifting machine, pile driver, drilling machine, revolving crane,
machine for threading screws, machine for making mirrors, machine for making ropes, winged spindle,
distiller with continuous cooling system, pulleys, mechanical drum, odometer, gold foraging hammer,
fan, rollers for friction studies, machine for digging trenches, and more
Water and Land machines- sluice gate hatch, lagoon dredge, paddle boat, webbed glove, drop-
bottom float, floats for walking on water, fast-construction bridge, boat with paddle wheels, diving
bell, bilge pump, device for measuring water turning to steam, double hull, auto-feed hydraulic saw,
mobile-ram boat (assault battleship).

8. Science
Leonardo Da Vinci had a strong curiosity and refused to believe what his observations could not
prove. For example, through his studies of fossils, he refuted ideas such as the Great Flood from
the biblical era of Noah who built the ark.
By his studies refuting the flood, Leonardo also predicted the 20th century idea of plate tectonics
by considering the possibility of uplift in mountain building.
It was even suggested that Leonardo conceptualized an idea of evolution, which was not formally
researched and published by Charles Darwin until 1859... more than 300 years later!!!

9. Science
Among the many things that Leonardo Da Vinci
accomplished, the facets of his life that may be the
most interesting to healthcare workers would be his
advances in science, especially anatomy and
physiology.
Leonardo Da Vinci was way ahead of his time when
it comes to observing and documenting physiological
processes and details of anatomy. His analytical
mind did not have to deal with the frailty of the
human tendency to be squeamish when it came to
dissecting plants and animals, even humans!
Through his dissections, he gained understanding
of the respiratory system, skeletal and muscle
tissues, brain anatomy, and digestive and
reproductive systems. He advanced human
knowledge and understanding to a new level never
before comprehended before that age of
Renaissance..

10. Anatomy
The detail with which Leonardo Da Vinci observed, recorded, drew, documented his medical
findings set an example for researchers and medical practitioners for centuries to come.
The zealousness with which Leonardo Da Vinci searched for answers set an example for all of
the world.

11. Why he’s a genius
A genius, according to wikipedia.com, is a person with great intelligence, who shows an exceptional natural
capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work. Geniuses always show strong
individuality and imagination, and are not only intelligent, but unique and innovative.
Leonardo gained his intimate knowledge of the world despite lacking a formal education and despite facing
seemingly insurmountable odds. His work is not only creative and original, but revolutionary.
Mozart Einstein
Leonardo Da Vinci

12. Why he’s a genius
My personal beliefs on what makes him a genius is the old saying “There is a fine
line between genius and insanity.” The fact that he is so good at everything he
does, makes him exceptionally smart. His idiosyncrasies (the left-handed mirror
script, the manic search for knowledge and understanding, the myriads of unfinished
projects), his originality, his breakthrough, almost futuristic thinking is what sets him
apart.
Mirror script
The adoration of the Magi-
another unfinished work of
Leonardo Da Vinci
Unfinished Da Vinci
painting of St Jerome

13. Da Vinci, the humanitarian
Leonardo Da Vinci is the perfect
embodiment of the survey of humanities.
He expressed his scientific observations
flawlessly, with his phenomenal artistic
talent. One is able to witness the
fondness he has in his heart for art, for
beauty, for life... just by looking at the
eyes in the subjects of his paintings. His
painted subjects always have a softness...
a glow about their eyes, a gentleness that
only a humanitarian could understand.

14. Leonardo today
in humanities
His studies in science, math, architecture, botany, even
war machines were art to Leonardo Da Vinci. The
amount of passion he had for his work is evident, by the
scrupulous detail he put forth, and by the beauty that is
expressed in his inventions, his notes, and his paintings.

15. Bibliography
http://www.lairweb.org.nz/leonardo/life.html
http://www.davinciexperience.info/about.php
http://www.strangescience.net/davinci.htm
http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/LeonardosPerspective.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci
http://www.museoscienza.org/english/leonardo/Default.htm