Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Daily Independent
Elko, Elko County, Nevada
What is this article about?
Historical overview of ancient postal systems, highlighting Rome's efficient relay-based network for official communications along roads, with examples from Julius Caesar's era and the later private system under Diocletian.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
Rome Had the Best Organised System of Delivery of All the Ancient States.
We find the first recorded postal system in the Persian empire under Cyrus the Elder; but it is clear that Rome of all the ancient states possessed the best organized system of transmitting letters through its numerous provinces. All along the great Roman roads houses were erected at a distance of five or six miles from each other. At each of these stations 40 horses were constantly kept, and by the help of relays it was easy to travel 100 miles in a day. These services were intended for the state only, it being imperative to secure the rapid interchange of official communications. In the time of Julius Caesar the system was so well organized that of two letters the great soldier wrote from Britain to Cicero at Rome, the one reached its destination in 26 and the other in 28 days. Private citizens had to trust to the services of slaves and it is not until the end of the third century that we hear of the establishment of a postal system for private persons by Emperor Diocletian, but how long this system remained history does not say.
What sub-type of article is it?
What themes does it cover?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Story Details
Key Persons
Location
Roman Empire, Persian Empire, Britain
Event Date
From The Time Of Cyrus The Elder To The End Of The Third Century
Story Details
The text outlines early postal systems, starting with the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Elder, but emphasizes Rome's superior organization using relay stations with horses along roads for rapid official dispatches, allowing travel of 100 miles per day; Julius Caesar's letters from Britain reached Rome in 26-28 days; private postal service was established by Emperor Diocletian at the end of the third century.