Final answer:
Science in the Middle Ages saw a divergent path, with stagnation in Europe but significant advances within the Islamic world. Islamic scholars preserved classical knowledge and made pioneering contributions, which later influenced the European Renaissance. The period ended with the emergence of empirical science, leading to the modern age.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Middle Ages, science experienced both stagnation in Europe and significant advancement through the works of Muslim scholars. In the time of the Black Death, spanning from 1347 to 1350, which greatly diminished the European population, the Catholic Church's credibility was questioned. This period saw the rise of legendary thinkers like Copernicus and Galileo, whose scientific discoveries began to challenge church doctrines.
Meanwhile, the Middle Ages also witnessed the preserving and enhancing of classical Greek knowledge by Islamic scholars like Al-Khwarizmi and Ibn Sina, who also made pivotal contributions in areas such as mathematics and medicine. Their work set the stage for the Renaissance, which marked a transition towards modern science and technology. While Europe struggled with intellectual darkness after the fall of Rome, the Islamic world thrived, preserving knowledge and making impressive strides in various fields. This contrasted with challenges faced in Europe, such as the lack of advanced sanitation resulting in a heightened spread of diseases. However, not all was bleak, as medieval and Renaissance Europe saw significant engineering achievements in building construction and naval design, paving the way for the Industrial Revolution.
By the time of the Renaissance, a more empirical approach to science was taking root, setting Europe on a path towards the advanced scientific understanding we benefit from today.