雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. In ancient China, messengers on horseback carried letters between cities, but this was slow and unreliable. The first organized postal system was created by the Persian Empire around 550 BC, using relay stations. However, it was the Romans who developed a more efficient network, with stations every 12 miles. In the 19th century, the introduction of the postage stamp revolutionized mail delivery. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. This made postage affordable for ordinary people. Interestingly, the design of the Penny Black featured a profile of Queen Victoria, and it remained valid for postage for many years.