clipped from: www.textism.com 
The development of written letters begins with Roman square capitals. The early scripts were written on vellum with an edged reed or quill nib held nearly parallel to the base line; they tried to copy the characteristics of letters incised in stone.
In the Roman square capitals of the 4th century, the characters were somewhat simplified. The desire to write faster made itself felt.
The quickly written letters of the minuscule-cursive took regular and proportioned shape as Half-Uncials. They were written, as the Uncials, with a reed or quill pen held with a nib parallel to the base line. The style is mainly known to us from the ecclesiastical works of the early Christian scribes.