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KF5JRV > TECH 04.05.16 12:40l 24 Lines 1359 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 2463_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Cursus Publicus
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<IK6ZDE<F1OYP<ZL2BAU<XE1FH<N9PMO<NS2B<N0KFQ<KF5JRV
Sent: 160504/1126Z 2463@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
The Cursus publicus: The Courier Service of the Roman Empire Circa 20 BCE
About 20 BCE the emperor Augustus created the Cursus publicus, the
courier service of the Roman empire, to transport messages, officials, and tax
revenues from one province to another. Though Augustus based the Roman system
on the Persian model of relay riders passing a message from one courier to the
next, he switched to a system in which one man made the entire journey
carrying the message. This had the advantage of enabling the messenger to be
questioned regarding additional information, and it may have provided
additional security. However, it also slowed down the speed of communication.
Various authorities have estimated that the average speed of a messenger over
the Roman road system was about 50 miles per day a substantial reduction in
speed from the relay methods used by the Persian Empire. The riders may have
used light carriages called rhedæ with fast horses.
Additionally, there was another slower service equipped with two-wheeled carts
(birolæ) pulled by oxen. This slower service was reserved for government
correspondence.
It has also been estimated from surviving accounts of Roman voyages that the
fastest Roman ships sailed at five knots or 120 miles per day in good weather,
and two knots or 50 miles per day in unfavorable weather.
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