亚述帝国邮驿制度辨析

亚述帝国的邮驿制度尚处于初创阶段,还存在一些需要完善之处:其一,亚述帝国的御道只修建在本土的部分地区,况且有些路段的路况不能令人满意;其二,亚述帝国的驿站仅仅设立在边远地区,它们的服务尚未尽如人意。但是,亚述帝国的御道与其他道路一起构成了贯通全国的交通网,为国王管理控制地域广阔的帝国创造了条件。驿站是亚述帝国通信体系的重要组成部分,有助于国王加强对边远地区的控制。亚述国王选派亲信奔赴各地,他们不仅传达国王的政令,而且可以代表国王处理行省事务。总之,亚述帝国的邮驿制度是国王加强统治的一种重要工具。

The Postal System in the Assyrian Empire

The postal system in the Assyrian empire was on its initial stage, and there was still room for improvement:For one thing, the royal roads were merely paved on some regions of Assyria proper, and some stages were not desirable;for an-other, the postal stations were only established in the outlying districts, and their service was not satisfactory. The royal roads and other roads, however, constructed a traffic network leading all the directions, which facilitated the king to administrate his expansive empire. The postal stations were vital for the Assyrian administrative communication system, it could be beneficial for the king to dominate the outlying areas. The Assyrian kings always chose their trusted followers as messengers, who could convey king’s orders and handle provincial affairs on the king’s behalf. In short, the postal system in the Assyrian empire was an important tool for the king to consolidate his rule over the empire.