Name of scholars in Middle Ages

Monks.

Edited by gcle2003 - 25-Aug-2006 at 10:30

Medieval scientists, writers and scholars usually were not referred to as such, just because they often had other duties that they were known for. Very few people from that time could actually make a living by just pursuing an academic vocation. For example, if you were a scribe or a clerk, your job was often to work for a king or local ruler composing various letters and documents. If they had spare time, they might also pen some history or other book.
Others would be employed in the bureaucracy as well - for example, Nasir al-Tusi, who was a famous mathematician and astronomer in the 13th century, spent his later years as an advisor and governor in the Ilkhanate. He invented triginometry to assist the bookkeeping and tax collection duties of his ruler, Hulagu Khan.
In Europe, most scholars would have to go religious training as part of any education, and would be considered to be clerics or monks.