Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. In ancient Persia, around 500 BC, messengers on horseback carried royal decrees across the empire. These messengers used a relay system, where fresh horses were stationed at intervals of about 20 kilometers, allowing messages to travel up to 300 kilometers in a single day. This system was later adopted by the Roman Empire, but they improved it by building dedicated roads and posting stations. Interestingly, the word 'post' comes from the Latin 'positus', meaning 'placed', because horses were placed at fixed points along the route.
❓ What was the main purpose of the relay system in ancient Persia?