The Growth of Public Mail Systems Исполнитель

The Growth of Public Mail Systems

During the I300's, the growth of international commerce led merchants and trading companies to establish their own courier services. Universities, religious groups, and guilds (organizations of skilled workers) also maintained mail service for their members. However, service was slow, expensive, and unreliable.

The invention of the printing press and the growth of education and teaming during the 1400's increased the demand for post aiservice. Delivering mail became a profit able business, and private mail services sprang up in many areas. The Taxis family of Vienna organized one of the most famous private systems. By the early 1600's, their service employed about 20,000 couriers and covered most of central Europe. Generally, however, service remained costly and slow. In addition, deliveries were made only along major transportation routes.

The rise of strong centralized governments in Europe in the late 1400's and the I500^fs led to the establishment of official postal services. In 1477, King Louis XI of France created a postal system of mounted couriers with regular schedules. In 1516, King Henry YII1 of England organized a similar system in his own country. Although these systems were established primarily for official use, the safe and reliable service they provided also made them popular with the public.

During the early 1600's, many European governments established public postal systems. In 1627, the French government established post offices in major cities and regulated postal rates. In 1635, the English government established a public postal system between England and Scotland.

Many countries passed laws giving the government the sole power to provide postal delivery. However, p rivate mail services continued to operate in these countries, mostly along routes not covered by government postal systems.