St. Paul Museum of European History
Presenting: Renaissance inventors and inventions
What will be featured
The Renaissance period had many historical inventors that impact our world today. It's simple justification to be educated on them. You'll be able to learn about geniuses like Johannes Gutenberg, Leonardo Da VInci, and Galileo Galilei. Not only will you be able to learn about the inventors themselves, but their creations. Our museum contains the movable type, printing press, water wheel, thermometer, steam engine, telescope, and many more.
Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Da VInci lived from 1452-1519. He was a pure genius with many, many occupations. He was of course an inventor but also a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, and a writer. Unlike some others, he depicted most of his inventions using art as if it were more of an idea. His notes consist of over 13,000 pages which are filled with an enormous range philosophical ideas, scientific studies, observations, anatomy, and last but certainly not least, inventions. He had drawings of the parachute, the tank, bicycle, musical instuments, steam cannon, sciscors, water wheels, and the helicopter. So this man and his beautiful mind is partly responsible for what our world is like today.
Johannes Gutenberg
Johanees Gutenberg lived from 1395-1468. He was a publisher, printer, and a blacksmith. He invented mechanical type printing. The was a huge impact during the Renaissance and resulted in what's called the Printing Revolution because it introduced the world to mass communication. His invention made it so people could write and keep whatever they desired. His most recognized piece of work was the Gutenberg Bible, which was also the first book ever printed with the printing press. Even though he was one of the most important inventors in history, he never made a profit off the printing press and died in poverty.
Galileo Galilei
Galileo lived from 1564-1642. Similar to Leonardo Da Vinci, he was also a man of many occupations. Galileo was a physicist, philosopher, astronomer, and a mathematician. As you can tell he was a very scientific person. He invented the thermostat so he could support his ill family. The thermometer was simple and could only register variations of temperature, unlike today's more sophisticated version's that can be designed to apply to a person easily. He invented the compass so people could aim their cannonballs in the accurate direction of the target. He didn't exactly invent the telescope, but he did build one without any input or knowledge of one. So his creations seemed to have different purposes that have evolved into what they're like now. Galileo made a lot of money off these creations but unfortunately he died of a fever at age 77.
Other notable inventors and inventions
- Thomas Savery, an English military engineer, invented the fisrt steam engine on July 2nd, 1698
- Peter Heinlen, a German locksmith, invented the pocket watch in c. 1504
- Conrad Gessner, a Swiss bibliographer, invented the pencil in c. 1565
- William Lee, an English clergyman, invented the knitting machine in c. 1589
- Leonard and Thomas Digges invent the telescope in 1583