Literacy and the education system in 16th- and17th-century England

This article is based on the first two chapters of my university thesis, discussed at the University of Turin many years ago. My research thesis is based on 17th century manuscripts housed in the Rare Manuscripts section of the British Library in London. In November 2025 I attended an economics conference at the University of Cambridge, where on hearing a delegate presenting this topic from 1660 to 1700, I discovered that my research is still valid. I also realised that it’s very interdisciplinary, touching on political history, history of science and economic history (human capital). This article provides the background to the information gleaned from the rare manuscripts, which will be shared in subsequent chapters. The thesis was awarded several points and allowed me to achieve an excellent final grade. I dedicate this article to my tutor, Prof Daniela Bianchi, who collaborated with Prof Giuseppe Rutto, and sadly passed away a few years after my graduation.