Yup. I've read that the kings had writers and readers and the writers could not read and the readers could not write. (Doesn't make a lot of sense but, that's what I read)
Our custom of reading wills aloud comes from that period. Everything official used to be read aloud because so few could read.
East German joke:
Q: Why do Stasi agents travel in threes?
A: One who can read, one who can write, and one to keep an eye on the two dangerous intellectuals.