Sharing History

Before the 19th century, postal services were almost completely dependent on transportation. With the development of new modes of transport, communication was raised to a new, higher level. In the 19th century, national postal services were established as state enterprises whose material form was shown in elaborate buildings (post offices) designated for these services. Post offices were integrated with other new means that speeded up communication, from telegraphs to telephones. The introduction of modern postal services helped to standardise the postal infrastructure in the European, Arab and Ottoman territories, although differences in the presentation of those services, including their aesthetic presentation, persisted. The most important consequences of the development of postal services were not only the improvement of communication but also its strategic and commercial use. The development of postal services is an expression of political and administrative reforms and major transformations in the European, Arab and Ottoman territories.