Renaissance

Renaissance

By quinsiren
  • 1283

    Mechanical Clock

    Mechanical Clock
    The first known example that resembles what we think of as a clock was built in the town of Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, England in 1283. Known as a turret clock, these mechanisms were large, weight driven devices that were placed in tall building towers, or turrets, in the center of town. SO WHAT? What does this mean? The invention of the mechanical clock allowed people to tell time more easily and accurately.
  • 1287

    Spectacles

    Spectacles
    Historians are not certain who invented the first spectacles. In the late thirteen century around 1287 paintings first appeared with people wearing or holding spectacles. From these paintings we know that spectacles were invented in Italy. In 1352 eyeglasses were only worn by the well educated, very rich noblemen or well read Italian clergy.
  • 1436

    Printing Press

    Printing Press
    The printing press was invented by a German named Johannes Gutenberg in 1436. SO WHAT? What does this mean? The invention of the printing press ended the tedious tradition of hand copying all books and manuscripts, replacing it with a much more practical process.
  • 1483

    Parachute

    Parachute
    The first design for the parachute was drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in 1483. The use of parachutes has saved countless lives.
  • 1496

    Wallpaper

    Wallpaper
    Wallpaper was first used in 1496 for decorations.
  • 1515

    Submarine

    Submarine
    The first sketches of a submarine war ship were created by Leonardo da Vinci around 1515. He kept these sketches a secret because he did not want war to be more scary and violent than it was before. The drawings of the submarine were basically an empty shell with a conning tower on the top.

  • Microscope

    Microscope
    About 1590, two Dutch spectacle makers, Zaccharias Janssen and his son Hans, while experimenting with several lenses in a tube, discovered that nearby objects appeared greatly enlarged. SO WHAT? What does this mean? The invention of the microscope has led to the discovery of bacteria and many other groundbreaking medical discoveries.

  • Flush Toilet

    Flush Toilet
    Sir John Harrington, godson to Queen Elizabeth, made the first flush toilet for himself and his godmother in 1596. He was teased by his friends and never made another one although he and Queen Elizabeth continued to use the one he did make.

  • Artillery

    Artillery
    When China founded Gunpowder, people from the Renaissance found its uses. Gunpowder is thought to be first used in the Battle of Crecy in 1346 A.D. Gunpowder changed how war was played. Then during 1600's and 1700's William Congreve made rockets for wars. Then late in the 17th century the gun was invented. Anything that uses gunpowder was invented. This caused a huge change in all future wars.

  • Telescope

    Telescope
    In 1608, Hans Lippershey invented the telescope which was improved in 1668 by Galileo. SO WHAT? What does this mean? The invention of the telescope allowed for Galileo to see outer space and it had other incredible effects.

  • Match

    Match
    In 1680, Robert Boyle noticed that when Sulfur and Phosphorous combine with heat, it ignites and creates a flame. At first his matches were more dangerous than modern day matches but they still served their purpose and later, his match was modified to make the safer modern day matches. SO WHAT? What does this mean? The match was used often and made it possible to see at night. People could work after dark and light candles.