Latest / The Safavid Empire: Persia's Return to Greatness — Fexingo History
The Safavid Postal System: How News Travelled Across an Empire
Before telegraphs, before newspapers, there was the chapar — the Safavid Empire's mounted postal courier network. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the routes that connected Isfahan to Tabriz, Herat, and the Ottoman frontier. They explore how Shah Abbas I overhauled the system using 24-hour relay stations, special horse breeds, and a corps of elite riders who could cover 200 miles in a day. But the chapar wasn't just for mail — it was an intelligence network, a tool of centralization, and a symbol of royal authority. Lucas reveals how the system declined under later shahs, contributing to…
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