Again, it makes sense because the whole idea was to keep the army busy at all times. When they weren't fighting - and there were long stretches of peace on the various fronts - or drilling, they were building. If there was nothing to build I can see commanders trying to encourage education of one type or another.
Remember, part of the appeal of a life in the legions ( or, I might add - the Auxillia) was that when your 25 years were up you got a piece of land to farm in a colony as a reward. Those people were then expected to become solid citizens of that community. The Roman army was a great civilizing force and it wasn't just because they built roads and bath houses.
I imagine that some people had more of an affinity for literacy than others but that is still true today, is it not?
Remember, part of the appeal of a life in the legions ( or, I might add - the Auxillia) was that when your 25 years were up you got a piece of land to farm in a colony as a reward. Those people were then expected to become solid citizens of that community. The Roman army was a great civilizing force and it wasn't just because they built roads and bath houses.
I imagine that some people had more of an affinity for literacy than others but that is still true today, is it not?
