How the Mind Museum Uncovered Leonardo da Vinci's Colorful Life and Greatest Inventions Like No Other Book of History Can (Part 1)

You hated your world history class when you were in high school because firstly, your teacher was as boring as a warm summer afternoon, that everytime you're in his class, you can't help but yawn and if you just could, you would want to lay down somewhere because of too much sleepiness in your head. You can still remember how he discussed these great people during the Renaissance period—Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rafael and Donatello—but the only thing left everytime you leave his class are the Ninja Turtles. Nothing else.

But gone are the days when you still have to read these thick history books that just usually make your nights a little miserable. Now, studying world history and the life of the greatest people on earth is as easy as listening to an audiobook and as energizing and fun as playing a Candy Crash Saga game. Yes, history made easy!

Take for example, the Mind Museum has opened a captivating exhibit on September 1 called, Da Vinci - The Genius. It lasted for almost three months and has become so successful in attracting the interest of both kids and adults like a best-selling ice cream parlor.

I don't want to miss this so I visited this mind-blowing exhibit on November 30 (which unfortunately, was its last day of operation) and I was astonished with all the things I saw here that I have never seen before. For sure, if you have the chance to see all these, you'll be keeping some of your history books away since you'll rather be more interested to see how all these things you read about Leonardo da Vinci come to life.

A replica of one of Da Vinci's journals: It was said that he had this vast collection of notes and journals that could sum up to 6000 pages! Some of the pages were brought back to life at the Mind Museum's Da Vinci - The Genius Exhibit.

I stayed at the exhibit for about 2 hours. But since I value your time, I won't be wasting even half an hour of yours to read this blog post.

There are just two things I can promise you after seeing all the pictures: If you love Da Vinci, you'll love him more. If you hate him, you'll hate him even more because you'll suddenly realize how amazingly weird he has been to think about all these genius stuff that didn't touch your mind even once.

The Mind Museum's Da Vinci - The Genius Exhibit Welcomes You!

These are the first things that you will see as you enter the exhibit

These visitors are very passionate to try these models that Leonardo Da Vinci has imagined and drawn.

Leonardo da Vinci: On the Art of War

Tank (Carro Armato)

Leonardo has came up with a design of a huge armored vehicle capable of moving in any direction and can bristle with cannons on all sides.

This concept was believed to be the ancestor of the modern tank which came initially during the First World War

Mechanical Drum (Tamburo Meccanico)

Leonardo invented this mechanical drum to be used in military marches and, perhaps by soldiers who will go into a battle. The loud, booming noise produced by the repetitive beats from just one instrument could somehow scare the enemies by confusing them to believe that the approaching army was far bigger in size than it actually was.

Covered Cart for Attacking Fortifications (Carro Coperto per l'Assalto)

This huge wooden structure was used to storm the walls of a castle or a fortress.

Imagine some soldiers emerge from this framework, climb to cross the bridge and break into the fortress.

Cannon (Bombarda)

During Leonardo's time, this has just been a presentation piece designed for a potential patron to seek for a financial support.

Multi-Directional Gun Machine (Mitragliatrice a Ventaglio)

Leonardo's design of a machine gun resembles the shape of a fan with cannons fairly distributed. This can fire a single shot but can do simultaneous rounds of fire too.

Leonardo da Vinci: On Hydraulic and Aquatic

Breathing Equipment (Respiratore Subacqueo)

Probably one of the first scuba-diving gear that has been invented. In Da Vinci's design, each tube was made of cane, joined by leather and capsulated in metal rings to prevent them from being crushed by water pressure. The two tubes are capable of air exchanges while the valve can regulate the flow of air.

Submarine (Sottomarino)

Originally it was intended to sink a ship, Leonardo's idea of a submarine was made of a simple shell with a conning tower and lid, with a room that can only accommodate one person.

Since this submarine was able to move unnoticed underneath an enemy ship in the harbor, the sailor can secure a line with a weight to the ship's hull and secure the other end to the sea floor. When the ship starts to sail, the weight from the bottom of the ship will suddenly pull the ship down, eventually causing it to sink.

The Paddle Boat (Batello a Pale a Manovella)

Leonardo designed this boat with a shovel-shaped paddles, which is based on the shape of the fish's fins. Using the principles of reciprocating motion, the operator should work the two pedals with his feet to set the paddle wheels moving as it propels the craft forward.

Double Hulled Ship (Scafo a Doppia Carena)

Since Leonardo was always fascinated with the movement of water and the shapes of the fish, he drew and created a design of a hull that can be more stable than the round-bottomed ships that were common in his time. So he thought of an idea of a ship with two hulls instead. For safety measures, if the outer hull was damaged during a war or in an accident at sea, the intact inner hull could still keep the ship afloat.

Surprisingly, today's petrol tankers are now making use of the double hull model introduced by Leonardo; thus, increasing their safety and the protection of the load.

>>  Continue reading:  How the Mind Museum Uncovered Leonardo da Vinci's Colorful Life and Greatest Inventions Like No Other Book of History Can (Part 2)