Reading and Writing. The inability of most medieval people to read and write was more of an impediment than it appeared to be at the time. Indeed, society depended much more on oral than on written communication, and information certainly circulated by word of mouth in public announcements, sermons, and performances. Most medieval children were not schooled enough to read or write. Both were expensive activities: books were scarce; writing surfaces were costly; and to write one had to be equipped with basic writing tools, if not quills and ink. For most people, especially those of the laity, neither reading nor writing was seen to be a necessary part of life. Some females from noble families learned to write, but for most, writing was not deemed as useful as spinning. Writing, especially in the...