true. However today any given field can be covered to a far greater depth than one person can be familiar with as well. 500 or 600 years ago, science was just s

true. However today any given field can be covered to a far greater depth than one person can be familiar with as well. 500 or 600 years ago, science was just smaller. Half a millenium ago, I could probably know everything about the cutting edge of physics, astronomy, math, chemistry and optics in my head at once. 500 years ago, calculus had yet to be invented, fire was still thought to be "somehow" composed of phlogistons, and scientists were jsut coming to grips with the idea that the earth circled the sun. Even 200 years ago, the knowledge encompassed by science was tiny compared to what we know today.