Yam (route)
Encyclopedia
Yam is a supply
point route messenger system employed and extensively used and expanded by Genghis Khan
and used by subsequent Great Khans and Khans
.
Relay stations were used to give food, shelter and spare horses for Mongol armies messengers
. Genghis Khan gave special attention to Yam because Mongol armies traveled very fast, so their messengers had to be even faster, covering 200–300 km per day. The system was used to speed up the process of information and intelligence
.
As one of the most fundamental tools for managing the Mongol Empire
, the operation of the Yam system was regulated by the written law Yassa
. Both messengers and station operators enjoyed extended privileges. Even for everybody else, the requirements of the Yam took precedence before their other duties and interests, and they had to support it whenever it became necessary. This kind of support was made possible by the strict discipline within the empire, which also led to a high level of security, often described as Pax Mongolica
.
At first the system was also available to merchants free of cost. The abuse of this possibility led Möngke Khan
to require that commercial users pay for the services.
The service has been described in great detail by European travellers including Giovanni da Pian del Carpine
, William of Rubruck
, Marco Polo
, and Odoric of Pordenone
. While it was not the first messenger system in history (earlier ones existed in the Persian and Roman Empire
s), it was unprecedented in size and efficiency.
Each rider had a paiza. The paiza was an engraved metal pendant, usually circular or rectangular. It symbolized that they were messengers of Genghis Khan. It was made of various metals. Their paiza would also make them more respected by the Mongol people.
The Mongol Derby, a 1,000km adventure horse race across Mongolia, is inspired by the Ortuu system of the Mongol Empire. It is run by the Adventurists, a UK based Adventure company, in partnership with Mongolian group Tengri, and is a celebration of the horse in Mongolian culture, ancient and modern.
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
point route messenger system employed and extensively used and expanded by Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
and used by subsequent Great Khans and Khans
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
.
Relay stations were used to give food, shelter and spare horses for Mongol armies messengers
Courier
A courier is a person or a company who delivers messages, packages, and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialization and individualization of express services, and swift delivery times, which are optional for...
. Genghis Khan gave special attention to Yam because Mongol armies traveled very fast, so their messengers had to be even faster, covering 200–300 km per day. The system was used to speed up the process of information and intelligence
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
.
Description
The Yam operated with a chain of relay stations at certain distances to each other, usually around 140 miles or 200 kilometers. Messengers for example would go to the next relay station and give the information to the second messenger and rest and let the second messenger go to the third relay station to hand the document to the third messenger. This way information or documents were constantly on the move without each messenger getting tired. In each relay station there would be spare horses, food, and shelter.As one of the most fundamental tools for managing the Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
, the operation of the Yam system was regulated by the written law Yassa
Yassa
Yassa was a secret written code of law created by Genghis Khan. It was the principal law under the Mongol Empire even though no copies were made available...
. Both messengers and station operators enjoyed extended privileges. Even for everybody else, the requirements of the Yam took precedence before their other duties and interests, and they had to support it whenever it became necessary. This kind of support was made possible by the strict discipline within the empire, which also led to a high level of security, often described as Pax Mongolica
Pax Mongolica
The Pax Mongolica is a Latin phrase meaning "Mongol Peace" coined by Western scholars to describe the stabilizing effects of the conquests of the Mongol Empire on the social, cultural, and economic life of the inhabitants of the vast Eurasian territory that the Mongols conquered in the 13th and...
.
At first the system was also available to merchants free of cost. The abuse of this possibility led Möngke Khan
Möngke Khan
Möngke Khan , born Möngke, , was the fourth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from July 1, 1251 – August 11, 1259. He was the first Great Khan from the Toluid line, and made significant reforms to improve the administration of the Empire during his reign...
to require that commercial users pay for the services.
The service has been described in great detail by European travellers including Giovanni da Pian del Carpine
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, or John of Plano Carpini or John of Pian de Carpine or Joannes de Plano was one of the first Europeans to enter the court of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. He is the author of the earliest important Western account of northern and central Asia, Rus, and other...
, William of Rubruck
William of Rubruck
William of Rubruck was a Flemish Franciscan missionary and explorer. His account is one of the masterpieces of medieval geographical literature comparable to that of Marco Polo....
, Marco Polo
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
, and Odoric of Pordenone
Odoric of Pordenone
Odoric of Pordenone was an Italian late-medieval traveler...
. While it was not the first messenger system in history (earlier ones existed in the Persian and Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
s), it was unprecedented in size and efficiency.
Each rider had a paiza. The paiza was an engraved metal pendant, usually circular or rectangular. It symbolized that they were messengers of Genghis Khan. It was made of various metals. Their paiza would also make them more respected by the Mongol people.
The Mongol Derby, a 1,000km adventure horse race across Mongolia, is inspired by the Ortuu system of the Mongol Empire. It is run by the Adventurists, a UK based Adventure company, in partnership with Mongolian group Tengri, and is a celebration of the horse in Mongolian culture, ancient and modern.