A Distance of One Day's Journey and Postal Stations in the Timurid Dynasty

Abstract

As is usually the case with Inner Asian dynasties that ruled vast territories, the Timurid Dynasty operated a postal system, which encompassed an extensive web of postal stations. This system was instrumental in allowing the Timurids to acquire information rapidly, and it also facilitated the movement of both military personnel and civilians. The system was also used for time-tracking: For instance, citing how many postal stations there were between two cities proved to be a relatively reliable way of calculating distance. This truly demonstrates the importance of the postal system under the Timurid Dynasty, especially as far as transport is concerned. In this paper, I examine the postal station as a criterion of time-tracking and relate it to a unit called farsah or farsang. I also discuss the way in which the Timurid Dynasty could retain and manage the postal station as a constant criterion. Specifically, I examine the system of postal stations, the permission needed in order to conduct a journey, how such permission was acquired, who could supply such permission, the benefits of such permission, and the support of the siqa'uls. The results of my investigation demonstrate how the Timurid rulers kept this web of postal stations in their lands and how they used them in order to obtain valuable information as quickly as possible, especially during emergencies.