The numbers game : numeracy and the dissemination of knowledge in early modern England

In early modem England, men and women utilized multiple numerical systems, ranging from oral systems of spoken words to written systems such as Arabic numerals. Men and women used these systems interchangeably, letting practical considerations inform their choice of system for any particular task. Although the written system of Arabic numerals was a relative latecomer to England, it became increasingly popular during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. English men and women's situational choices accepting or rejecting the new Arabic numerals therefore demonstrate some of the particular practical considerations and priorities associated with using each numerical system. These choices also indicate how early modem English men and women understood and obtained various forms of numeracy, through means both oral and written.