Leonardo Da Vinci was born illegitimately in Vinci, Italy in 1452 and faced hardship from a young age. Through self-education and keen observation of the world, he became a renowned polymath - making contributions to fields including art, science, mathematics, engineering and anatomy. Despite obstacles like a lack of formal schooling and persecution as a left-handed man, Da Vinci's genius was shown through his innovative ideas, artistic talent and relentless pursuit of knowledge that advanced human understanding well ahead of his time.

1. Leo
Re
n
na
a
isr
sa
d
nco
e MD
an, G
a
enV
ius
inci

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.
(1
452-1519)

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, weknow that he was among
the very first to take a scientific approach towards understanding how our world works and how
wesee 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 cameto 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 glowabout 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