The sciences were financially supported, honoured everywhere, universally pursued; they were like tall edifices supported by strong foundations. Then the Christian religion appeared in Byzantium and the centres of learning were eliminated, their vestiges effaced and the edifice of Greek learning was obliterated. Everything the ancient Greeks had brought to light vanished, and the discoveries of the ancients were altered out of recognition.

Summary

This quote highlights the negative impact of the Christian religion in Byzantium on the flourishing of scientific knowledge and learning. It suggests that before Christianity's emergence, the sciences were highly valued, properly funded, and widely respected. However, with the arrival of Christianity, the centers of learning were suppressed, erasing the remnants of Greek knowledge and distorting the ancient discoveries beyond recognition. The quote criticizes the adverse effect of religious influence on scientific advancement during that period.

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