For much of the early modern period it was a commonplace to say that all true knowledge and wisdom had come from the East, and in the course of centuries had made its way by degrees to Europe and even to America. Typically, for James Howell in 1642, the transit of the arts and sciences was like the movement of the sun, traversing the world from East to West in endless cycles. The ancient wisdom, “budded first among the Brachmans and Gymnosophists in India, then blossom'd amongst the Chaldeans and Priests of Egypt, whence it came down the Nile, and crossed over to Greece … and bore ripe fruit.” Afterwards it found its way to Italy, and “then clamber'd over the Alpine hills to visit Greece and France, whence the Britaines and other North West Nations of the Roman World fetch'd it over.” Nor was it impossible, Howell concluded, “that the next flight it will make, will be to the Savages of the newly discovered World in America, and so turn round, and by a circular perambulation visit the Levantines again.” Not everyone was so optimistic, although the philosopher, George Berkeley, certainly held out the prospect for America when he set out for Bermuda in 1721.

The career of the ancient wisdom is, of course, much too vast a subject to attempt in this space. Indeed, it is a story that in its fullness still remains to be told.