Final answer:
Leonardo da Vinci was called the 'renaissance man' due to his multifaceted skills in art, science, and invention, exemplifying the ideal of a versatile and innovative thinker during the Renaissance period.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leonardo da Vinci was called the 'renaissance man' primarily b) Due to his skills in various fields such as art, science, and invention. This polymath exemplified the Renaissance spirit through his versatile contributions that spanned painting, architecture, science, engineering, and more. Leonardo's broad expertise and innovative thinking led to groundbreaking works in each of these domains, making him an archetypal figure of this flourishing period of human history.
Leonardo was not merely an artist who created some of the period's most celebrated masterpieces; he was also deeply engaged in scientific inquiry and technological innovation. In his notebooks, Leonardo documented his extensive research in biology, physics, and engineering, which included designing mechanical devices and experimenting with ideas for flight, reflecting a profound connection between theoretical study and practical application.
It is important to note that while Leonardo had an impact on the broader culture of the Renaissance, including literature and philosophy, his fame as a 'renaissance man' is not specifically due to his contributions to the political scene or to Renaissance literature and philosophy alone. Instead, it is his overarching contributions to and mastery of several disciplines that garnered him this title.