How many years passed before scholars began to lowercase letters instead of just capital like the Romans?

This is a bit of a trick question! The Romans actually used both uppercase and lowercase letters, although not in the exact way we do today.

Here's why:

* Roman Capitals: The Romans primarily used what we consider uppercase letters, often called "majuscule" in scholarly terms. These letters were carved into stone monuments and written on scrolls.

* Roman Cursive: Romans also used a cursive script for everyday writing, which resembled what we call lowercase letters, often referred to as "minuscule." This cursive script was faster to write and more economical on materials.

The Shift to Lowercase:

The shift to lowercase letters as we know them today happened gradually over centuries, mainly during the Carolingian Renaissance (8th-9th centuries) in Europe.

* Scriptural Influence: Monks copying the Bible standardized a more uniform and legible minuscule script.

* Printing Press: The invention of the printing press in the 15th century further popularized and standardized the lowercase form.

The Long and Short of It:

There wasn't a specific year when lowercase letters were "invented." It was more of a gradual evolution over centuries. While Romans did use cursive letters, their writing system wasn't identical to our current uppercase and lowercase system.