What impact did the rise of christianity have on the intellectual life of europe, both eastern and western, through the seventh century c.e.?

Sciences were slowed and delayed because of any scientific discovery/theory that went against what people already believed or went against what was said by god, was shut down by the Church. For example Galileo's scientific discoveries of other planets and the solar system had him put under house arrest for almost his entire life. It was also common practice for the Church to burn heretics, who were often just scientists. 

Your answer would  be Dutch farmers who settled around Cape Town