This process he assumed bad taken hundreds and thousands of centuries, thus tacitly rejecting the biblical tradition as to the date of the creation.
Notwithstanding the obvious interest that attaches to the investigations of Leonardo, it must be admitted that his work in science remained almost as infertile as that of his great precursor, Bacon.

The really stimulative work of this generation was done by a man of affairs, who knew little of theoretical science except in one line, but who pursued that one practical line until he achieved a wonderful result.

This man was Christopher Columbus.

It is not necessary here to tell the trite story of his accomplishment.

Suffice it that his practical demonstration of the rotundity of the earth is regarded by most modern writers as marking an epoch in history.