USPS pt2

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, listeners. I cannot thank you enough for stopping by
for another episode of the What They Did Before podcasts,
a show dedicated to, well, what they did to just
about everything out there. There's going to be a lot
of episodes. There's a lot of stuff out there. It's
so easy to take a lot of things in day

(00:23):
to day before. Granted, you should be aware that this
week's episode is a continuation of what we did before
the modern postal system. If you haven't heard last week's episode,
you'll want to go back and check it out. You

(00:44):
missed a lot. We're going to jump right into it
to day with the basic informal communication methods before the
postal system. Some of the most advanced in earliest used
was carrier pigeons or homing pigeons. They have been used

(01:10):
for centuries to carry messages, especially in wartime. These birds
were trained to return to their home lofts from various locations.
They were particularly useful in times when communication lines were
cut or unavailable, such as during military conflict. Messages were

(01:33):
written on small pieces of paper attached to the pigeon's
legs and sent off. The pigeons would fly back to
their lofts where the messages could be retrieved. Not a
lot else to rely on, you could try a good

(01:54):
old fashioned smoke signal and drum. Indigenous cultures around the
world used non verbal methods of communication, such as smoke
signals or drum messages. Smoke signals used by Native American
tribes and other cultures involved creating a large plume of

(02:15):
smoke in a specific pattern to convey messages over long distances.
Drums were also used, particularly in Africa and the Americas,
to send coded messages or to announce important events. The
traveling salesmen or peddler played an informal yet crucial role

(02:39):
in disseminating news during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. As
they traveled from town to town selling goods, they would
also carry messages from relatives, local events, or important announcements.
These individuals often acted as unofficial carriers of news, filling

(03:01):
in the gaps left by the absence of a formal
posts system. Wealthy individuals or institutions sometimes set up private
courier services to ensure important messages were delivered quickly and securely.
These services, typically operated by private firms, used trained runners,

(03:24):
mounted messengers, or even ships to carry personal or commercial correspondence. Often,
these couriers were used for legal business or diplomatic matters
where time was of the essence. Before the establishment of
formal postal systems, many people relied on trusted friends and

(03:46):
relatives to carry letters, especially in small communities or between towns.
Family members often traveled to visit relatives and would take
advantage of their trips to deliver personal messages, keeping communication
alive across distances. Next, let's take a look at the

(04:06):
postal services in ancient China. The ancient Chinese were pioneers
in postal systems, establishing a well organized network around two
hundred BC during the Han dynasty. The system used relay stations, horses,
and foot messengers. This system was crucial for managing the

(04:30):
vast empire and its bureaucracy. The Chinese also employed imperial couriers,
who carried messages for the emperor and government officials. Imperial
messengers were highly valued in Chinese society. They were often
seen as the most trusted servants of the emperor. They

(04:53):
were responsible for delivering imperial edicts, military orders, and official correspondence.
These messages they carried were often of great importance and
could change the direction of policy or military strategy. During wartime,

(05:15):
military couriers were essential for carrying orders, intelligence, and communications
between commanders and their armies. These couriers were often highly
trained and traveled under dangerous conditions, such as through battlefields,
rough terrain, or enemy lines. Their role was vital in

(05:37):
ensuring that crucial military decisions were made quickly and that
orders reached their destinations. Letters of truce or peace negotiations
were often delivered by special messengers to initiate cease fires
or peace talks. In these cases, the messenger had to

(05:59):
be trusted by both sides and was often given special
protection during the delivery of the letter to avoid being harmed. Next,
let's take a look at some early communication in the Americas.
The Incan Empire developed a unique system of communication using quipus,

(06:19):
a series of knotted cords of various colors and lengths.
These equippas were used to record numerical data, historical events,
and even convey messages across the vas Indian Empire. Since
the Incan did not have a written language, equippas served
as a form of record keeping and communication among officials,

(06:43):
allowing them to convey information over long distances. Without relying
on literacy. Native American tribes such as Navajo and Cherokee
created sophisticated trail networks across the Americas that facilitated trade
and communication. These trails were used by travelers and messengers

(07:08):
to carry important news, messages, and trade goods between villages
and settlements. Some tribes also used a system of wampum
belts to convey information, acting as symbolic messages or records
of treaties and agreements. Thanks let's take a look at

(07:30):
pre Industrial Revolution communication. In the absence of a formal
postal system, notice boards in towns and villages became vital
hubs for the dissemination of news. Town Criers would often
read from the board, announcing everything from royal decrees to
local gossip. These boards served as a public form of

(07:52):
communication that was accessible to any one who could read
or who listened to the town crier. In medieval and
early Renaissance Europe, mercenaries or warriors, including the famous Galloglasses
of Ireland and Scotland, often doubled as messengers during times
of conflict. These heavily armed individuals were employed by lords

(08:17):
and kings to carry important messages under conditions of peril,
particularly in areas with ongoing military campaigns. They traveled across
dangerous lands where no formal postal network existed, delivering it
messages that could change the course of battles or diplomatic relations.

(08:39):
The Catholic Church and other religious organizations maintained their own
communication networks. In some cases, monks or priests were employed
as couriers to carry letters, manuscripts, and religious texts between monasteries, chapels,
and courts. These messengers were sometimes assign specific roots, such

(09:01):
as between monasteries in Europe, or from the pope to
local dioceses. Pilgrimages, such as those to Jerusalem or Mecca,
also served as a means of communication. Pilgrims often carried
letters from their communities to other pilgrims or between religious institutions,

(09:23):
spreading news, religious teachings, and political information along the way.
These journeys sometimes acted as informal postal services for the faithful.
The semaphore system, also known as signal towers, was a
precursor to modern telecommunication. These towers, often placed on hilltops

(09:47):
or strategic points, were used to send messages across long
distances using a system of flags or mechanical arms. Operators
at each tower would relay mess sages visually to the
next station and a chain. The system was first used
in France in the late eighteenth century and became an

(10:08):
essential communication tool for military and government purposes. Before the
advent of wireless communication, lantern signals and lighthouses played a
role in communication, particularly for maritime navigation. The use of
Morse code via light signals became widespread in the nineteenth century,

(10:33):
particularly with the use of flashing lights and lighthouse communication.
Lighthouses served both as beacons for sailors and as a
method of signaling distress or signaling messages across the sea. Unfortunately,
that's all the time that we've got for today's episode
of the What They Did Before Podcast. I can't thank

(10:58):
you enough for listening, and next time,