Safavid Post Road System

Timeline

1. 1501–1587Qazvin · Safavid PersiaAfter the dynasty's founding, chapar-khaneh (post houses) were established in centers such as Qazvin, relaying imperial decrees by horse relay and initially integrating the Persian Plateau's existing trade routes and administrative channels, laying the foundation for central control over the provinces.
2. 1598–1610Isfahan · Safavid PersiaAfter moving the capital to Isfahan, Abbas I undertook large-scale construction of roads and caravanserais, reorganizing the post relay trunk lines to radiate from the new capital to the provinces, and strengthened rapid communication toward the Ottoman and Uzbek frontier directions.
3. 1611–1620Major trade routes of the Persian Plateau · IranIn the 1610s the post relay system operated steadily, with imperial decrees and military-political documents transmitted rapidly by horse relay; caravanserais also provided lodging and security for long-distance trade in silk, spices, and other goods, and European envoys traveling to Isfahan often made use of this road network.