He encouraged learining by expecting all noble sons to learn to read and write. This created a more 'common' literacy. Before his time reading and writing in Anglo-Saxon Britain was reserved to the clergy, and even there it was low-level in many cases. Alfred's program to boost up learning began a renaissance within the Anglo-Saxon world, which increased culture in many forms.
Literate nobility means that much more business will be arranged in writing, like charters, writs and laws. The number of administrative written sources from before Alfred's age are really few and far between. After him, their numbers soar up. More business arranged by official documents can be a basis for a stronger state.
But Alfreds achievements are not just in the areas of literacy and literature, but also in many reorganisations in the army, and apparently he was the one who founded the English navy.
Edited by Aelfgifu - 20-Jan-2008 at 17:48