In the next few minutes, we are going to
examine four inventions that were developed
in Europe during the Renaissance. These
inventions not only changed the way people
lived during the Renaissance, but they also
influenced the lives of people in later
centuries, including us!!
As we examine these inventions, please
record the information in the
appropriate place on your handout.
The Printing Press
• Where Invented: Germany
• Invented by: Johann Guttenberg
• Purpose of the Invention: to
reproduce written text quickly and
cheaply
• Impact of the Invention: books were
cheaper/more accessible so literacy
rates increased and information
spread more quickly. Printing of the
bible lead to a questioning of the
Catholic Church
The Printing Press
During the Middle Ages, most books were
handwritten by Catholic monks. Because of the time and
effort, they were very expensive.
In the 1450s, a German inventor named Johann
Gutenberg created Europe’s first printing press. Using
moveable type or individual letter blocks, Gutenberg
printed books in a short amount of time for little expense.
Although the world’s first printing press had been
invented by the Chinese centuries earlier, Gutenberg’s
printing press introduced this technology to Europe for the
first time during the Renaissance. Gutenberg’s first book
was the Bible. But over time, numerous types of books
were printed. Gutenberg’s printing press revolutionized
the diffusion of information throughout European society.
Books related to science, literature, music, technology, and
religion were spread rapidly throughout Europe. Due to
the decreased cost of books, more people were willing and
able to buy them. Gutenberg’s printing press helped to
quickly spread the new ideas of the Renaissance throughout
Europe.
The Caravel Ship • Where Invented: Iberian Peninsula
(Spain/Portugal)
• Invented by: The Portuguese
• Purpose of the Invention:
Triangular lateen sails allow
navigators to sail into the wind.
• Impact of the Invention: allowed for
the age of exploration and the
discovery of the Americas by
Columbus.
The Caravel Ship
The caravel is a small, high
maneuverable ship used by the Spanish and
Portuguese for long voyages beginning in the
15th century. The caravel was an improvement
on earlier ships because it could sail very fast
and into the wind. The were designed with two
or three masts and fixed with triangular sails
called lanteen sails.
The ability to sail against the wind allowed for
greater exploration and discovery during the
Renaissance. In fact, the Nina and the Pinta of
Christopher Columbus’ fleet in 1492 were
caravels. The improved technology of ship
making during this time had a direct effect on
Europeans’ “discovery” of the New World.
In addition to exploration, the caravel was
used by European navies in battle. The use of
the caravel enabled Europe to control the seas
and establish a dominant presence throughout
the world in the centuries following the
Renaissance.
The Telescope
• Where Invented: Holland (The
Netherlands)
• Invented by: Hans Lippershy
• Purpose of the Invention: to enlarge
objects too distant to be seen by the
naked eye.
• Impact of the Invention: allowed for
Galileo to prove Copernicus’ suncentered theory (heliocentric model).
The Telescope
Using the idea of the microscope to
guide him, Hans Lippershy invented the telescope
in 1608. Lippershy thought that if a microscope
could enlarge images too small for the naked eye,
there must be a way to enlarge objects too distant
for the naked eye.
He accomplished this by combining two lenses
and a tube in a different way than previously
used in the microscope. By using convex and
concave lenses he was able to magnify stars and
planets. Like the microscope, the telescope was
invented in Holland and bent light to view a
desired image.
Galileo Galilei used the telescope to develop
theories about Earth and its relation to the stars
and solar system. Modern astronomy and science
was deeply impacted by the development of the
telescopes as new stars and planets could be
identified and monitored on a regular basis thus
increasing mankind’s knowledge of the universe.
The Musket
• Where Invented: Western Europe
• Invented by: Unknown
• Purpose of the Invention: to create an accurate killing
machine – win wars
• Impact of the Invention: allowed European countries to build
up large armies of unskilled soldiers. Led to the development
of automatic weapons and modern warfare.
Fuse
Figure 1: The musket added a fuse to ignite the gunpowder and free the soldier's hands.
Putting guns in soldiers' hands
The Musket
Guns were first seen as replacements for the catapult and the battering ram — destructive,
but not precise. As guns developed, they gained accuracy and usefulness…Handcannons, as the smallest
guns were called, scared the enemy's horses and perhaps intimidated a knight or two. But for quite a
while handcannons were not a practical replacement for bows and swords. How did you hold a gun, aim
it, and also effectively set fire to the gunpowder charge?
In the middle of the 1400s, the solution was a wick soaked in alcohol and attached to a trigger.
Pulling the trigger lowered a slow match to the gun's touchhole and lit the powder charge. The musket,
shown in Figure 1, freed the soldier’s hands to aim at intended targets. Although no single inventor has
been credited with the invention of the musket, most historians agree that it was first introduced by
Europeans and utilized throughout the continent in warfare.
The development of advanced gunpowder weaponry such as the musket changed the face of
warfare. With the use of handheld guns, powerful armies could be manned by relatively unskilled
soldiers. Tbe days of the medieval knights were numbered as their armor could not withstand with the
power of gunpowder and the improved accuracy of the musket.
Fuse
Figure 1: The musket added a fuse to ignite the gunpowder and free the soldier's hands.
Sketch 1
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.
Directions:
1. Before you click on a choice take a
quick vote within the group to decide
which choice to click on first.
2. If you are correct, read the explanation
and compare it to your own. Were you
able to grasp Leonardo’s vision?
4. If the answer is “Yes”, GREAT! Click
on the link to the next sketch and repeat
the process.
5. If the answer is “No”, don’t be
discouraged. Click on the link that says
“Back” and try again.
6. Remember to keep track of how many
you had right and wrong.
a) water lift
b) elevator
c) water slide
d) catapult
Click on my student,
Leonardo, in order to
return to the natural
order of the Power
Point.
Back to
Sketch 1
Sketch 2
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•
•
a) fan
b) elevator
c) helicopter
d) teepee
•
Directions:
1. Before you click on a choice take a
quick vote within the group to decide
which choice to click on first.
2. If you are correct, read the explanation
and compare it to your own. Were you able
to grasp Leonardo’s vision?
4. If the answer is “Yes”, GREAT! Click
on the link to the next sketch and repeat
the process.
5. If the answer is “No”, don’t be
discouraged. Click on the link that says
“Back” and try again.
6. Remember to keep track of how many
you had right and wrong.
Click on my student,
Leonardo, in order to
return to the natural
order of the Power
Point.
Back to
Sketch 2
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•
•
•
•
•
Sketch 3
Directions:
1. Before you click on a choice take a
quick vote within the group to decide
which choice to click on first.
2. If you are correct, read the explanation
and compare it to your own. Were you
able to grasp Leonardo’s vision?
4. If the answer is “Yes”, GREAT! Click
on the link to the next sketch and repeat
the process.
5. If the answer is “No”, don’t be
discouraged. Click on the link that says
“Back” and try again.
6. Remember to keep track of how many
you had right and wrong.
a) tent
b) tank
c) carousel
d) flying saucer
Click on my student,
Leonardo, in order to
restore the natural order
of the Power Point.
Back to
Sketch 3
Sketch 4
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a) wheel barrow
b) clothes washing device
c) harmonica
d) machine gun
•
Directions:
1. Before you click on a choice take a
quick vote within the group to decide
which choice to click on first.
2. If you are correct, read the
explanation and compare it to your own.
Were you able to grasp Leonardo’s
vision?
4. If the answer is “Yes”, GREAT! You
have completed the task. Follow the
directions on the slide that will appear.
5. If the answer is “No”, don’t be
discouraged. Click on the link that says
“Back” and try again.
6. Remember to keep track of how many
you had right and wrong.
Click on the image to return to
Sketch.
Sketch 1: Incorrect!!
• Don’t let Paula
down!
• Take another vote to
determine what will
be the group’s next
selection.
• Click on the link at
the lower right to
continue.
Come on… I
know you can
do it!
TRY AGAIN
Sketch 1: Correct!!
Water Lift - This invention
consists of a water wheel, two
screws and two towers. As the
water wheel turns, the screws
turn, pushing the water up to
the highest tower. The tall tower
acts as a reservoir for gravity
Read the description
above and then click on
the link below to go on
to the next sketch.
fed water pipes.
Next Sketch
Click on the image to go on to next sketch.
Sketch 2: Incorrect!!
• Don’t worry, it’s not
big deal. You have
another shot.
• Take another vote to
determine what will be
the group’s next
selection.
• Click on the link at the
lower right to
continue.
You’ve
got to give me
something
better than
that!
Try Again
Click on the image to return to
sketch.
Sketch 2: Correct!!
Helicopter - This is a
detail of the mechanism that
drives the helicopter. Two
men would run on the lower
level, which would rotate. The
rotation would force the
upper "fans" to rotate as well,
lifting the helicopter off the
ground.
Next Sketch
Click on image to go on to next sketch.
Sketch 3: Incorrect!!
• Don’t disappoint
Simon!!
• Take another vote to
determine what will
be the group’s next
selection.
• Click on the link at
the lower right to
continue.
That was perhaps
one of the most
dreadful choices
I’ve ever
witnessed.
You’re all lucky
to still be playing
Try Again
Click on image to return to Sketch.
Sketch 3: Correct!!
Remember this
smile, it could be
• Tank: This is a the
man last time you
powered tank. Thesee
upper
it.image
shows the tank firing. There
were multiple cannons arranged
around the tank. The lower
image shows the bottom of the
tank. Four men would work the
wheels in order to move the
tank.
Next Sketch
Click on image to go on to next sketch.
Sketch 4: Incorrect!!
Lets go! This is
The fourth
invention, you
should be getting
better at this.
It’s not as
easy as it
looks.
• Take another vote to determine
what will be the group’s next
selection.
• Click on the link at the lower
right to continue.
Try Again
Click on image to return to Sketch.
Sketch 4: Correct!!
• Machine Gun - This machine actually
consisted of three sets of machine
guns, set on a rotating drum (you can
see the triangle underneath the left
wheel, a set of guns would be placed
on each side of the triangle.) When
the first set of fired, the force of the
explosion would pivot the guns down,
bringing the next set of guns to the
top, ready to be fired.
Click here to continue.
Click on image to find out how you did.
Add up your score and refer to the listings below to see how you did.
• Four Correct:
Outstanding job!! You’re on
the same wavelength as
DaVinci.
• Three Correct:
Great! Leonardo would have
been proud of you.
• Two Correct:
Good job. 50% isn’t bad.
• One Correct:
There’s definitely room
for improvement.
• Zero Correct:
It’s just not your day.
Thanks for playing. Have a
great day!!
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