雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. Many people assume that the postal service began with the invention of stamps in the 19th century, but in fact, organized mail delivery dates back much further. For example, in ancient Persia, a system of mounted couriers operated along the Royal Road, allowing messages to travel quickly across the empire. However, this service was reserved for government use only. It wasn't until the 16th century that private individuals in Europe could send letters, and even then, the recipient, not the sender, usually paid the postage. This system remained until the introduction of the penny post in Britain in 1840, which shifted the cost to the sender and made mail affordable for everyone.