Since the Renaissance, there has been no event of such worldwide significance in the history of culture as the discovery of Sanskrit literature in the latter part of the eighteenth century. The highly advanced knowledge preserved in these texts is, however, really only coming to light now. After Alexander's invasion, the Greeks became to some extent acquainted with the Indians; the Arabs, in the Middle Ages, took their knowledge of Indian science to the West; a few European missionaries from the sixteenth century onwards were not only aware of the existence of Sanskrit Knowledge but also gained some familiarity with, the ancient language of India; and Abraham Roger even translated the Sanskrit poet Bhart¿ihari into Dutch as early as 1651.