The postal system among Arabs and Muslims during the Middle Islamic era

Abstract

The postal system began among ancient societies, linked to the emergence of urbanization and human settlement, driven by people's need for cooperation. It was closely associated with the creation of the concept of governance, which was tasked with defending society against aggressors. Each tribal leader considered placing spies on the outskirts of their tribe's region to warn of enemy raids before their arrival, protecting against surprise attacks. The postal system became widespread in civilizations with a rich history, and in ancient Pharaonic Egypt, the mention of the first postal document dates back to the Twelfth Dynasty (around 2000 BCE). It was a letter from a scribe to his father, expressing his appreciation for the craft of writing and anticipating a prosperous future in government positions. This research aims to study the postal system among Arabs and Muslims during the medieval Islamic era.