雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. You might be surprised to learn that the first organized postal system was established in ancient Persia around 550 BC. It used a relay of mounted couriers to deliver messages across the empire. However, the most famous innovation came in 1840 with the introduction of the penny post in Britain, which made sending letters affordable for ordinary people. This system was the brainchild of Rowland Hill, who realized that charging a flat rate based on weight, not distance, would increase mail volume and revenue. His idea revolutionized communication and laid the foundation for modern postal systems worldwide.