Thesis: the average 18 year old student in, say, York in AD 800 (the middle of the so-called "Dark Ages") had read more, knew more languages, was better trained in logic, could read more music, knew more mathematics and astronomy than the average student from a university today.

Sorry, I should have said & #39;WAY more ..."

Thoughts: 1. I am only comparing students at the end of the Carolingian trivium + quadrivium with students at uni today, NOT how widespread education was/is. 2. I concede their & #39;mathematics& #39; was limited (arithmetic + geometry; probably projecting my own limited maths onto others

3. Re & #39;music& #39;. They had limited notation (probably more than average student today, who doesn& #39;t have any). But their real musical prowess was theoretical, understanding the maths of harmonic proportions. 4. Some paupers and girls did go to school. This wasn& #39;t only elites.