King Gojong of Goryeo vs Leonardo da Vinci

The Mongol Empire under

After the murder of Mongol overseers, the Mongols launched a second invasion. General Saritai led the attack. Goryeo forces resisted fiercely, but the Mongols devastated the countryside. The invasion ended when Saritai was killed by a Buddhist monk.

King Gojong moved the royal court and government to Ganghwa Island, a fortified location in the Han River estuary. This relocation was intended to resist Mongol demands and protect the monarchy. The court remained there for nearly 30 years.

The Mongols launched a third invasion, focusing on destroying Goryeo's ability to resist. They ravaged the mainland while the court remained on Ganghwa. After years of war, King Gojong agreed to peace terms in 1238, including sending a prince as hostage.

To invoke Buddhist protection against the Mongol invasions, King Gojong ordered the carving of a new set of the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks. This massive project was completed in 1251, creating a cultural treasure that survives to this day.

After decades of war, King Gojong finally submitted to Mongol suzerainty. He sent his son, the future King Wonjong, to the Mongol court as a hostage. This ended the military resistance and made Goryeo a vassal state of the Mongol Empire.

Leonardo was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza to create a colossal bronze equestrian statue, the Sforza Horse. He spent years on designs and a full-scale clay model, but the bronze was used for cannons, and the statue was never cast. The clay model was destroyed in 1499.

Leonardo designed several flying machines, including an ornithopter with flapping wings inspired by birds. He studied aerodynamics and bird flight, creating detailed sketches. While none were built or flown, his designs demonstrated advanced engineering concepts.

Leonardo da Vinci conducted detailed anatomical dissections of human corpses, producing over 200 drawings of muscles, bones, and organs. His studies of the heart, brain, and fetus were centuries ahead of their time, though not published during his lifetime.

Leonardo painted The Last Supper on the wall of the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The mural depicts the moment Jesus announces his betrayal. Its innovative composition and emotional depth made it a seminal work of Renaissance art.

Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa, a portrait of Lisa Gherardini. He used sfumato technique to create a subtle, enigmatic smile. The painting became the most famous artwork in the world, renowned for its composition and technical mastery.