so-crates

I would be surprised if the percentage that was literate was above 10%. At that time, most people lived in the country. Writing materials weren't as cheap as they are now, for the rural population there were no teachers and any instruction would have to be provided by the family, most of whom were busy working anyway. And there simply wasn't the need for them to learn how to read and write when they were performing manual labor.

This was the case even amongst relatively literate societies like the Romans and Greeks.

Toto

I have not read it, but there is a book Jewish Literacy in Roman Palestine (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Catherine Hezser, previewed extensively on google books.

There are several factors to consider: Jews were known as the people of the book; they did not work on the Sabbath; and reciting texts was a part of their religious practice.

JoyJuice

Hello, I ran across this on the net. What do you make of it, specially the last sentence?

"Conclusion

Literacy data from all over the world show the relationship and dependence between farmers (or the state of agriculture), and literacy. This tie has been found in various peoples and in the course of time. The data 'create' a world-wide rule.

The other facet of this dependence is population growth, urbanization and infant mortality that apparently go hand in hand with literacy. This connection enables the student of societies in the past to deal with the problem of literacy whenever the direct evidence is not available. This study offers a method to analyze processes that took place in a specific society so that the literacy rate may be derived.

Comparative data show that under Roman rule the Jewish literacy rate improved in the Land of Israel. However, rabbinic sources support evidence that the literacy rate was less than 3%. This literacy rate, a small fraction of the society, though low by modern standards, was not low at all if one takes into account the needs of a traditional society in the past."

Illiteracy in the Land of Israel in the first centuries c.e.--MEIR BAR-ILAN

I have no doubt they recited texts, but just courious how many were able to read that which was to being recited.

Frankencaster

Not if one is a peasant. Goats, donkeys, pests, and hungry stomachs do not take days off.

It was the same with peasants Europe for most of history. One attended agricultural chores when necessary...there were no Sundays off when crops needed to be planted, harvested...meat put on the table, etc. Starvation was always just around the corner.

It's important to remember that formal religious practices have never been popular in western cultures until the last couple of centuries. Most peasants in Europe did not get married, ever attend a church, etc. Formal religion was a thin skin that rarely penetrated down through society. Peasants have always adhered to taboos,superstitions, festivals, etc. that acted as practical guiding principles for everyday life