New Books in Communications Rachel Midura, "Postal Intelligence: The Tassis Family and Communications Revolution in Early Modern Europe" (Cornell UP, 2025)
Jan 7, 2026
Rachel Midura, a historian specializing in early modern communication, takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the Tassis family's pivotal role in revolutionizing postal systems across Europe. She explores how the rise of postal services transformed governance and diplomacy from the 1500s to 1700s, blending private and public mail networks. Midura discusses the risks faced by couriers and the development of postal immunity, illustrating how these advancements shaped politics and society, while also delving into her digital reconstruction methods and the ongoing debates about privacy and surveillance.
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Paper Enabled The Early Modern Communications Revolution
- Paper proliferation enabled routine bureaucracy and made widespread written communication possible across early modern Europe.
- Rachel Midura links cheaper papermaking to growing state and commercial demands for reliable message carrying.
Relay Stations Drove Postal Speed
- Postal systems relied on staging posts and relay riding to maximize speed across long distances.
- Maintaining staffed way stations and fresh horses made the service expensive but dramatically faster than alternatives.
Arrest Of Giovanni Antonio Tassis
- Giovanni Antonio Tassis was arrested and tortured after a ciphered messenger violated papal edicts during the Italian wars.
- International protest followed and the episode helped institutionalize customary protections for postmasters.
