Why was the Renaissance such an important period of time in Western history? Who were the innovators who thought of the inventions we still use today?

In The Renaissance Inventors with History Projects for Kids, readers 10 through 15 explore the period of European history from the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries while focusing on the biographies of five inventors from that time and the creations they brought to the world. The lives of Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Leon Battista Alberti, Johannes Gutenberg, and Gerardus Mercator are brought to life as kids discover the challenges these men faced and the discoveries they made using their critical and creative thinking skills combined with their passion for science and engineering.

With 10 hands-on projects that use the engineering design process, kids create their own versions of many amazing inventions from the Renaissance right at home. Fun facts, primary source illustrations, and links to online resources spark an interest in the Renaissance. Even without a time machine, learners can "experience" the Renaissance!

The Renaissance Inventors is one of a set of four books in the Renaissance for Kids series. Other titles in the series are The Renaissance Explorers, The Renaissance Artists, and The Renaissance Thinkers.

Try these STEAM projects from the world of the Renaissance!

Build an Anemometer

Make a Cipher Wheel

Engineer a Parachute