雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. In ancient Persia, messengers on horseback carried royal decrees across the empire. However, the system was slow and unreliable. It wasn't until the 19th century in Britain that the modern postal system emerged. Rowland Hill introduced the penny post in 1840, which allowed letters to be sent for a uniform low cost, regardless of distance. This innovation greatly increased the volume of mail and made communication accessible to ordinary people. Interestingly, the first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was also introduced that year.