How did the yam postal network speed up travel and communication?

The Mongol empire utilized the yam, an extensive network of postal relay stations, to significantly enhance the efficiency of communication and administration across its vast territories.1

By establishing these relay stations at regular intervals, the system allowed messengers to travel long distances rapidly by providing them with fresh horses and supplies at each stop. This infrastructure ensured that official information and administrative directives could be transmitted across Eurasia with unprecedented speed, effectively connecting the disparate regions of the empire. Furthermore, this network supported the broader stability of the Pax Mongolica, facilitating safer and more reliable travel for both government officials and merchants traversing the Silk Road.1