He believes such ancient knowledge should become protected by Unesco as part of the world's heritage.

BBC: Plants found in ancient pills offer medicinal insight

Having studied for five years under top Chinese professors, he now co-writes learned papers on Eastern medicine in Mandarin, drawing on a deep knowledge of ancient Chinese philosophy and cosmology.

ECONOMIST: The Greeks and the Chinese

But comets were really only unpredictable to ancient peoples, who lacked a knowledge of the full extent of the solar system.

FORBES: Magazine Article

This requires abundant historical knowledge and mastery of ancient Chinese grammar.

UNESCO: CULTURE

No doubt these organizations would say that their associations with Fai are ancient history and that they had no knowledge that Fai was operating on behalf of Pakistani intelligence.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The Biggest DC Spy Scandal You Haven��t Heard About

In ancient times the Library of Alexandria held the collected knowledge of the Western world.

FORBES: Wonderful Wealth

The Industrial Revolution happened in Europe with no scientific knowledge beyond what the Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Persians knew in ancient times.

FORBES: Can Asians Innovate?

Obsessed with languages, Wedeman is fluent in Arabic, Italian and French, has a working knowledge of Hebrew, and has studied Japanese, Russian, Farsi, ancient Egyptian, and classical and contemporary Mongolian.

CNN: Anchors & Reporters

"We know that the ancient Egyptians had extensive trade routes and it is entirely possible that both medicinal plants and the knowledge to use them effectively were traded between regions and countries, " Dr Metcalf said.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | Manchester | Hunt for ancient medicine secrets

And yet to define the university as the engine room of the knowledge economy also imposes complex new demands on an institution already struggling to reconcile its ancient tradition with the demands of mass higher education.

ECONOMIST: The knowledge factory