Movable Bridge

In a letter to the the Borgias — a ruling family in Italy — Leonardo promised to design “light and strong bridges” for military purposes. Leonardo knew that to maintain the element of surprise or make a fast getaway, troops in a hurry needed bridges that could be built and taken down without delay.

Leonardo designed several movable bridges to be built and taken apart quickly. This allowed troops to make rapid and unexpected movements. Leonardo’s designs called for materials that were easy to find and transport, such as small tree trunks and strong ropes.

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