Medieval science has been seen through a variety of lenses. For many years, the Middle Ages were seen as the "Dark Ages", a period of ignorance and superstition with little progress or enlightenment. Other times, Medieval science has been seen as the "Middle" - basically a step from prehistoric humanity to the enlightened technological modern human as a step on the inevitable ladder of progress for human evolution.

The reality is more complex.

Much medieval science was heavily reliant on Classic Greek and Roman sources which were viewed as established and authoritative on their subject. This body of knowledge was increasingly growing during the period as new sources were rediscovered or re-acquired.

And while massive discoveries and postulates were being made, these did not necessarily have penetrating power to society at large - perhaps because the language of scholarship was Latin, perhaps because centers of scholarship were often removed from wider society, or perhaps simply due to the communication limitations that were present. Nonetheless, numerous major scientific thinkers

b. ~370 AD - 415 AD Hypatia was a prominent Neo-Platonist, mathematician, and astronomer who lived in Alexandria, Egypt. She became renowned as a researcher and teacher, and was known as one of the most brilliant philosophers of her time period, providing impromptu lessons, designing tools and instruments for learning and taking measurements, and operating a school in Alexandria.

She may have been a pagan, in what had by this point become a largely Christian territory. Her school taught both Christians and Pagans, and was in turn respected and endorsed by the Christian Bishop of Alexandria, Theophilus who she seemingly viewed with love and admiration. With his endorsement she grew to wield a great deal of influence in the city of Alexandria, one of the major hubs of the Roman world.

Theophilus suddenly died, and taking his place was his nephew Cyril. A power struggle ensued and lashing out against those who he viewed as challenging his authority, Cyril began to punish those who had supported his rival. Lies and misinformation began to spread regarding Hypatia's school and her teachings.

Suddenly, a violent mob of extremists ambushed her carriage, taking her into a local former temple they stripped her naked, and murdered her with pottery tiles, gouged out her eyes, tore her body apart, and then burned it.

Cyril was highly suspected of having orchestrated the attack, and had parts of his authority stripped from him as a part of the investigation. However, the death of Hypatia sent a chill through challenges to social and cultural hierarchies.

b. 490 AD - 570 AD John Philoponus was a Byzantine philosopher and scholar who produced a massive body of scientific and philosophical arguments. Writing over 40 treatises, he produced theories which went off the beaten trail, challenging certain Platonic and Aristotelian concepts as well as laying out arguments on the nature of light, space / time, matter, and "impetus". He further waded into major metaphyical arguments on the nature of spiritual realities - and was accused of certain heretical concepts. His works were translated and were massively influential in the Syriac and Arabic speaking world.

Was a Muslim Andalusian who served in a variety of positions. He wrote and taught extensively producing theories in philosophy, theology, medicine, astronomy, physics, psychology, mathematics, Islamic jurisprudence and law, and linguistics.

His writings became so influential that he gained a following in Europe, where his ideas and works shaped debate and thought.