The underwear factor in the spread of literacy

The role of pants in the spread of western culture has been wrongly sidelined, according to medieval historians. Rags from discarded pants and knickers led to a 13th century breakthrough in the making of cheap paper, undercutting expensive parchment. Cheap paper was available when William Caxton set up England's first printing press in 1476, and his work has long been credited with the dramatic spread of learning. But Marco Mostert of Utrecht University, speaking at the International Medieval Conference in Leeds, said: "Paper deserves a share of the credit. Its development through the increase of rags undoubtedly helped to increase literacy." Read the article at Guardian Unlimited.