Mongol Empire - Part 6: Paper Money and Passports: Mongol Innovations We Still Use Today
Key Takeaways Paper Money: The Mongols implemented history's first continental paper currency system. Passports: The *paiza* tablet system was the direct ancestor of modern passports. Postal Service: The Yam created the model for national postal systems. Diplomatic Immunity: The inviolability of ambassadors became Mongol (and international) law. Census & Taxation: Systematic data collection enabled efficient governance. When you use a credit card, you’re relying on a concept the Mongols helped pioneer: money that doesn’t require physical precious metals. When you show a passport at a border, you’re using a system the Mongols formalized. When you receive mail, you benefit from postal principles the Mongols established. ...