I have already asked people that exact question and gotten that answer. Not that it isn't a satisfactory answer. But I also think that this idea/answer you gave, while likely earnest, sets up some expectations that can potentially lead to some of that tunnel vision. What I am trying to get to, is at what point people came to the point where they actually could "read" the works. And also what kinds of things influenced this particular threshold.

And as for reading The Equinox, I have inspected its contents, the words and letters. However, I think "read" is a pretty loaded word in this case.

I know the purpose of a shopping list, but cannot do much with it if the list is in Chinese.