Medieval Parent Magazine – Literacy

Article – ‘Tis a shame that you are almost certainly illiterate

 

 

 In other words, the majority of medieval parents would not be reading this article. Literacy rates in the Middle Ages were low. A peasant or manual laborer didn’t need to know how to read or write. And they probably didn’t have the leisure time to pick up a book and sit. The wealthy could hire tutors to teach their children (or themselves) how to read. If there was something truly important that a peasant needed written down, sometimes the village would have a scribe or someone connected with the church that could do this. For a price, of course. By the same token, if a letter arrived and the peasant needed it to be read to them, they could go to the same source for that. For a price.

 

 

When it came to news or important info that the people needed to know, the town crier would go throughout the city imparting the message. Then he usually posted the paper on the door of the local inn.

Fun Fact: During public hangings, the crier would read out why the person was being hanged. Afterward, he would help cut down the hanged body. And get a little extra in his paycheck.

 

 

Very slowly, reading became more common, but not necessarily writing. And it was mostly males that were taught. So maybe there was a peasant husband who could read this magazine to his good little wifey.