雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to talk about the history of the postal service. In ancient Persia, around 550 BC, a system of mounted couriers was established to deliver messages across the empire. These couriers used relay stations, where fresh horses were kept, to travel long distances quickly. The Greek historian Herodotus praised this system for its efficiency. Later, the Romans improved upon it by creating a more organized network of stations and messengers, which was mainly used for military and government communications. However, ordinary citizens rarely had access to this service. It wasn't until the 19th century that a public postal system, with stamps and uniform rates, became common in Britain.