著者

早川 尚志

出版者

内陸アジア史学会

雑誌

内陸アジア史研究 (ISSN:09118993)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.30, pp.23-49, 2015

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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 farsaḫ 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 šiqāʾūls.
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.