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KF5JRV > TECH 15.06.16 13:36l 20 Lines 1198 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 4596_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Mongol Postal System
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<N0KFQ<KF5JRV
Sent: 160615/1118Z 4596@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQK1.4.65
Postal System within the Mongol Empire and China Circa 1200
About 1200 the Genghis Khan, Great Khan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire,
installed an empire-wide messenger and postal station system named
Örtöö within the Mongol Empire. During the Yuan Dynasty under Kublai Khan, a
grandson of Genghis Khan, this system also covered the territory of China.
Postal stations were used not only for the transmission and delivery of
official mail, but were also available for traveling officials, military men,
and foreign dignitaries. These stations aided and facilitated the transport of
foreign and domestic tribute, and trade in general.
By the end of Kublai Khan's rule there were more than 1,400 postal stations in
China alone, which in turn had at their disposal about 50,000 horses, 1,400
oxen, 6,700 mules, 400 carts, 6,000 boats, over 200 dogs and 1,150 sheep. The
postal stations were 15 to 40 miles apart, and had reliable attendants.
Couriers reaching postal stations would be provided food, shelter and spare
horses. It was estimated that couriers could travel 20-30 miles per day.
Foreign observers, such as Marco Polo attested to the efficiency of this
early postal system.
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