posted 03-13-2006 10:05 AM
Pigeons were often used for messages that needed to be transmitted urgently. This obviously depended on a pre-existing communication network between those wishing to communicate - important people often had representatives in different locations (a precursor to the Embassy system) who would be responsible for handling communications on their behalf. Sometimes messages would be passed between several intermediate places, so only the very last part of the journey (if at all) needed to be done by horse and rider.
The Romans were used carrier pigeons as means for relaying messages. Pigeons were recorded as used in Baghdad in 1150, although the most widespread usage is repted to be by Genghis Khan who established pigeon relay posts across and Asia and much of Eastern Europe.
In 1850 Reuters started his stock-market information service with 45 pigeons that were used to pass messages between Brussels and Aachen in Germany. This journey took the pigeons two hours - six hours faster than the railway line. Quite how long this journey would take by horse - I've no idea.
Pigeons were still used in the second world war (some winning medals); and indeed, even in today's age of satelite communication Reuters is believed still to have pigeons available in difficult locations as part of its Global communications network. Pigeons were also used to pass messages in the recent gulf war.
Levan
[This message has been edited by Levan (edited 03-13-2006).]
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Castle Quest
posted 03-12-2006 12:02 PM
posted 03-15-2006 04:04 AM
