What major invention in the late 1800s led to a decline in the role of scribes?

The major invention that led to a decline in the role of scribes in the late 1800s was the typewriter. This tool revolutionized the way written communication was produced. Prior to the typewriter's widespread use, scribes were essential for creating written documents by hand. The typewriter allowed for faster, more uniform, and efficient production of text, which began to reduce the demand for hand-written work.

It enabled individuals, including those in offices and businesses, to generate documents, letters, and reports themselves, negating the need for a dedicated scribe. The typewriter's impact on communication and record-keeping laid the foundation for modern office practices and further contributed to the professionalization of various written tasks.

Other inventions mentioned, such as the printing press, had already established mass production of written material long before the late 1800s, while the telegraph was primarily focused on communication over long distances and did not directly relate to the production of written documents like the typewriter. The computer, which emerged later, revolutionized writing and information processing even further, but it was not a factor in the late 1800s.