Pagans didn’t fear nature like Christians did. For instance, Aristotle said that natural processes were teleological in that they all worked towards some goods. Christianity followed Augustine’s reading of Plato in drawing a duality between the demon-controlled natural realm and the coming kingdom of God.

Some fear of nature, though, is plainly wise since that fear is at the root of the civilized turn towards sedentary societies, or so I argue in my reconstructions.

The Scholastics didn’t “study” anything. They adhered to Church dogmas, and were focused on harmonizing various authorities instead of thinking for themselves. Hence the difference between medieval learning and the scientific revolution.

Yes, modern humanists studied nature to exploit it. That was my point about cultural differences. Christendom demonized nature and trusted that God alone could save us from that fallen state. Modern humanists were more progressive in seeking to extricate us from nature’s clutches by physically building a better world with science and technology. The Church demonized science along with nature.