How many years passed before scholars began to use lowercase letters?

It's tricky to pinpoint an exact year when scholars began using lowercase letters because the transition was gradual and varied across regions and time periods. Here's a breakdown:

* Early Use: Lowercase letters actually predate uppercase letters. They originated in the ancient Roman cursive script, which was used for everyday writing. This script, known as *cursus minusculus*, evolved into the modern lowercase letters.

* Medieval Period (5th-15th centuries): During this period, uppercase letters, called *majuscule*, were primarily used for formal texts like manuscripts and documents. Lowercase letters were primarily used for everyday writing and personal correspondence.

* Transition: The transition to using lowercase letters for scholarly texts began in the 12th century and accelerated in the 15th century with the invention of the printing press. The printing press made it easier and more efficient to produce texts in lowercase, which was also more readable.

Therefore, it's more accurate to say the transition to lowercase letters for scholarly texts took place over several centuries, rather than a specific year.