Ep 13. Da Vinci's World

Da Vinci's World is the thirteenth episode of Engineering an Empire season 1. This episode features the incredible works of Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest geniuses of all time, and how he revolutionized architecture, art, and engineering with his brilliant mind.

The episode begins by detailing the early life of Leonardo da Vinci. Born in Vinci, Italy in 1452, da Vinci was a true renaissance man, excelling in the fields of painting, sculpture, anatomy, and engineering. Despite not having any formal education, he went on to become one of the most important figures in the history of western civilization.

The episode explores da Vinci's contributions to architecture through his designs for never-built structures like his flying machines, hydraulic pumps, and revolving bridges. It is through this episode that audiences see how much of modern day engineering and architecture is built upon the foundation that Da Vinci created.

Furthermore, the episode details the genius of Da Vinci's art techniques by exploring his paintings such as the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and his sketches. His artistic innovation is revisited by the documentary as audiences learn how by using scientific methods, he was particularly skilled in the Renaissance art of drawing human figures, producing some of the most iconic images of the era.

One of Da Vinci's most impressive contributions was his studies and sketches of the human body and the way it functions with his innovative anatomical drawings and treatises, that helped to launch modern science as it exists today. Da Vinci was the first person to use drawings of the human anatomy to learn and document how it functions within the human body.

The docuseries also delves into Da Vinci's inventions such as his complex machinery, war machines, and even amusing recreational equipment such as his water organ, bringing things to life that audiences have only ever heard of through literature.

Moreover, the documentary covers Da Vinci's contributions that contributed greatly to the military industry and re-invented the way the military technological advancements secure their defense. His inventions included the creation of new types of cannons and other war machines that showed off his ingenuity and what the military would consider as a “technological advantage” in warfare. The episode discusses how this risk-taking approach was a game-changer for military tactics during that time which reverberates in today's structures and design methodologies.

Da Vinci's World is truly a show that demonstrates the wealth of knowledge that Leonardo da Vinci possessed and how his innovations continue to influence modern-day society. The episode concludes by showcasing how his work has influenced monuments, buildings and other architectural landmarks, and still inspires engineers and artists to this day.

This episode of Engineering an Empire is a must-watch for anyone who is interested in history, art, and engineering. It is the perfect example of how a single person can have a massive impact on society, and how the innovations of the past still resonate in the present.