> those skills were not all that useful to the average farmer.
Sorry but that is just not true.
Sure farmers aren't academics, but the sheer number of tasks, and tools required to efficiently do those tasks were vast. Innovation in winnowing was literlly life and death, as was plant/animal breeding traits.
Observing and reacting to changes in plants, lands, water, animals was critical to getting a good harvest. Packing and storing food was critical to surviving the winter.
Sure, the lack of literacy hampered knowledge recording and dissemination.
BUT, if we look mine the vast memory that is classics, knowledge, wit and cleverness were prised as often as strength and beauty.
Sorry but that is just not true.
Sure farmers aren't academics, but the sheer number of tasks, and tools required to efficiently do those tasks were vast. Innovation in winnowing was literlly life and death, as was plant/animal breeding traits.
Observing and reacting to changes in plants, lands, water, animals was critical to getting a good harvest. Packing and storing food was critical to surviving the winter.
Sure, the lack of literacy hampered knowledge recording and dissemination.
BUT, if we look mine the vast memory that is classics, knowledge, wit and cleverness were prised as often as strength and beauty.