What impact did the invention of movable type have on scribes and book production?

The invention of movable type revolutionized the process of book production by enabling the mass printing of texts, which significantly reduced the reliance on manual transcription done by scribes. This innovation allowed for greater efficiency and speed in producing books, making literature more accessible and affordable to a wider audience. As movable type gained popularity, the demand for handwritten manuscripts decreased, marking a transitional period where the traditional role of scribes began to diminish in favor of this new technology.

This shift is crucial in understanding the evolution of written communication and the dissemination of knowledge. The ability to produce books quickly and cheaply contributed to the spread of ideas during the Renaissance and helped facilitate the Reformation, making it an essential development in the history of literacy. Consequently, while there were still some contexts in which scribes were needed, the overall impact of movable type was to significantly reduce their prominence in the book production process.