Rachel Midura

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.

Rachel Midura, a historian of information and communication, dives into the pivotal role of the Tassis family in revolutionizing postal systems in early modern Europe. She explores how postal services became essential for state governance and foreign diplomacy. Midura reveals insights into how postal networks functioned like early social platforms reshaping politics. The Tassis family's influence extended from Italy across Europe, showcasing the complex interplay between public and private mail and the significance of surveillance in communications.

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.