Rachel Midura

Rachel Midura, a historian specializing in early modern communication, dives into the revolutionary impact of postal systems in Europe. She spotlights the Tassis family, who played crucial roles as postmasters under various rulers. Midura reveals how the post transformed diplomacy and public discourse, intertwining state and private communication. She discusses the challenges of maintaining reliable postal networks, espionage risks faced by messengers, and the evolution of postal services as a form of social media in the early modern era.

Rachel Midura, an early modern historian, delves into the fascinating world of the Tassis family, influential postmasters in 16th-century Europe. She reveals how postal services revolutionized governance and diplomacy, highlighting the intricate relationship between paper technology and the burgeoning state. Midura shares gripping tales, including the arrest of Giovanni Antonio Tassis and the role of postal networks in espionage. She also discusses the evolution of mail transport and the surprising impact of surveillance on communication and society.

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.