The 'culture of writing' in late sixteenth century Malta : Oliviero and Caterina Vasco's charitable deed

Abstract

Unprecedented quantities of documents began to be produced, recorded and stored in Malta in the late sixteenth century. Besides the Church and the governing bodies, private individuals also became increasingly immersed in a culture which relied upon the written word in many areas of life. This essay explores some of the documented activities of the spouses Olivero and Caterina Vasco, and illustrates a growing reliance on a 'culture of writing' in early modern Malta.