"Leonardo da Vinci: Universal Genius" A general look at the life and accomplishments of Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was born April 15, 1452 outside of the sleepy town of Vinci. Which is about one days travel on mule cart. Leonardo's father was named Ser Piero da Vinci. Very little is known about his mother because his father and his mother were not married. What is know about her is that her name was Caterina and Ser Piero refused to marry her so ancestry was intentionally suppressed so she could marry again. Some people believe that she was poor and Ser Piero did not want her in the family. Ser Piero had four wives, this did not include Caterina because he did not marry her. Between his four wives he had a total of six children. It is possible that there could have been more children with people that he did not marry like Caterina but that is not known.

Leonardo left a large impression in the history of the world.

tempera on gesso, pitch and mastic

English: Self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Red c...

English: Studies of Embryos by Leonardo da Vinci (...

His genius influenced many other great painters of the Renaissance such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Sandro Botticelli. Leonardo had many areas of interest. Some of these areas were geometry, optics, astronomy, geology, botany, zoology, hydraulics, mechanics, and anatomy. Military engineering and weaponry fascinated him very much . Leonardo was also very interested in how birds flew and if humans could ever fly. He designed several machines that attempted human flight but he never succeeded. Mechanics interested Leonardo. He drew many things that were far ahead of their time and thought up things that had never even been imagined. Leonardo drew a helicopter that had one large screw-like wing that was made of linen. He also sketched plans for a parachute. He also designed things for the military like tanks, machine guns, and bridges that could move. These sketches and inventions were not actually made until...