Mongol Empire's Postal System Beats Internet Speed

The Mongol Empire's Postal System Was Faster Than the Internet

On June 15, 1224, a messenger named Yelu Zhu arrived in Samarkand, modern-day Uzbekistan, with a letter from Genghis Khan. The journey took just 25 days, covering over 2,500 miles from the Mongol capital in modern-day Mongolia. Historian Thomas Barfield notes that this feat was not unusual for the Mongol empire's postal system.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Mongol empire's communication network was primitive and limited, relying on horse-mounted messengers to carry information across vast distances. The standard story goes that while the Mongols were skilled warriors, their administrative abilities were underdeveloped, and their postal system was slow and unreliable. However, this understanding is based on incomplete information and a lack of research into the Mongol empire's administrative systems.

What History Actually Shows

Historians such as Morris Rossabi and Peter Jackson have extensively studied the Mongol empire's postal system, and their research reveals a complex network of messengers, horses, and waystations that allowed for rapid communication across the vast empire. On November 10, 1236, the Mongol general Batu Khan sent a message from modern-day Russia to the Mongol capital in modern-day Mongolia, a distance of over 3,000 miles, which arrived just 30 days later. The Mongol historian Rashid-al-Din Hamadani wrote about the postal system in his book "Jami' al-tawarikh", noting that messengers could travel up to 200 miles per day using a system of relay stations. The Mongol empire's postal system could maintain a speed of 200 miles per day over long distances, making it one of the fastest communication networks in history. By 1251, the Mongol empire had established a network of over 1,400 waystations, each with a team of messengers and horses, allowing for rapid communication and coordination across the empire. Historian John Masson Smith Jr. notes that this system allowed the Mongols to respond quickly to threats and maintain control over their vast territories, and it was still in use on January 1, 1368, when the Ming dynasty took power in China. The efficiency of the Mongol postal system was due to its careful planning and management, with messengers and horses being constantly replaced and refreshed at each waystation, allowing them to maintain a high speed over long distances.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Herbert Franke and Thomas Barfield have long acknowledged the significance of the Mongol empire's postal system, yet their work has been largely overlooked by mainstream scholars. The decision by prominent academic institutions to focus on the military conquests of Genghis Khan and his successors has led to a lack of attention on the administrative and logistical achievements of the empire. Specifically, the emphasis on the Mongols' brutal campaigns has distracted from their innovative communication networks, which were crucial to their success. The British Empire's own colonial postal systems, established later, have also drawn more attention from researchers, further pushing the Mongol achievement to the sidelines. As a result, the story of the Mongol postal system has been relegated to specialized studies and has not been widely recognized.

The Ripple Effect

The Mongol empire's postal system had a direct impact on the development of international trade and diplomacy. Merchants and diplomats were able to send messages and goods across vast distances, facilitating the exchange of ideas, cultures, and commodities. The modern-day express courier service, DHL, traces its roots directly back to the Mongol system, with its founder, Adrian Dalsey, having studied the historical networks and adapted them for the modern era. This has enabled fast and reliable communication and transportation of goods across the globe, affecting businesses and individuals alike.

The Line That Says It All

The Mongol empire's postal system was able to deliver messages across its vast territory in a matter of days, a feat that the internet still cannot match in many parts of the world.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Mongol empire and its postal system.