learning today vs. 1000 yrs. ago

Question

I have a bit of an odd question -- Do you think the learning of today is 'deeper'/'better' than it was in the past? I mean, we basically have the knowledge of the past, and then we have what we can build on that. I have trouble believing that learning, like any science, has not grown and become more sophisticated and refined over time. It seems even more odd that learning would somehow degrade over time...At the least, like literature, i would imagine it would just change -- not better or worse, just differnt.. I feel like if Abaye were to step into a bet midrash today he would probably sit happily in a corner smiling broadly at the fact that he had no idea how to be a brisker! (or whatever derech!) just wondering what you think... thanks