A few great minds of the Middle-Ages, who prepared the advent of the "Renaissance"

• Alcuin of York (735-804) leading scholar at the court of Carolus Magnus.
• Al-Farabi (870-950) regarded, for centuries, as the Second Teacher in philosophy after Aristotle.
• Gerbert d'Aurillac (c945-1004) introduced arabic numerals in the West. Became pope Sylvestre II in 999.
• Avicenne (980-1037) also named Abu ‘Ali al-Husayn b. ‘Abd Allah Ibn Sina. Great persian physician.
• Abelard (1079-1142) pre-eminent philosopher and theologian of the XIIth century.
• Averroes (1126-1198) also named Abu'l-Walid Ibn Rushd. A towering figure in the history of Arab-Islamic thought. Contributed to the rediscovery of Aristotle.
• Maimonides (1135-1204) major jewish thinker of the late Middle-Ages. Thomas Aquinas borrowed ideas from Maimonides.
• Albertus Magnus (c1206-1280) called "Doctor Universalis", in recognition of his extraordinary genius and extensive knowledge. Advocated for the peaceful coexistence of science and religion.
• Roger Bacon (1214-94) surnamed "Doctor Mirabilis". Placed considerable emphasis on empiricism, and has been presented as one of the earliest advocates of the modern scientific method.
• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) a Dominican friar. Had views on God.
• William of Ockham (c1285-1349) a Franciscan friar. One of the leading Nominalists. Recommended to minimize hypotheses to explain new phenomena (Ockham's razor).
• Oresme (c1320-1382) un génie mathématique du XIVe siècle.
• Luca Pacioli (c1445-1517) wrote the first manual on double entry accounting.