Yam (route)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yam (in Mongolian: Ortooloh, "Ortoo" meaning checkpoint) is a supply point route messenger system employed and extensively used and expanded by Genghis Khan and used by subsequent Great Khans and Khans. Yams were used to give food, shelter and spare horses for Mongol armies messengers. Genghis Khan gave special attention to Yam because Mongol armies were known to ride almost 200 km in a couple of days. It was used to speed up the process of information and intelligence.
[edit] Description
Yam is an interconnected route system in order to deliver intelligence and information for travellers and messengers whether it be during warfare or during political negotiation and communication.
How the Yam operated was that there was checkpoint in every certain miles, usually around 140 miles or 200 kilometers to the destination. Messengers for example will go to the next checkpoint and give the information to the second messenger and he or she will rest and let the second messenger go to the third checkpoint to hand the document to the third messenger. This way information or document will constantly be on move without each messenger getting tired. It's like a human chain used to transferring things with each person handing the things to the next person. In each checkpoint there would be spare horses, food and shelter.
