Cursus publicus

Okay kiddo, let me tell you a story about something called cursus publicus. A long, long time ago in ancient Rome, there were no cars or airplanes like we have today. People had to travel long distances on foot or on animals like horses or camels. But, the government wanted to make sure important people like emperors, governors, and messengers could travel quickly and safely.

So, they invented something called cursus publicus. This was like a special transportation service just for important people. There were stations set up all around the Roman empire where people could stop and switch horses or get a fresh carriage. These stations were called mansiones.

Imagine you’re going on a long car trip with your family. But instead of a normal car, you’re riding in a special car just for important people. Whenever you need a break or to switch drivers, you stop at a special rest stop just for you. That’s what cursus publicus was like!

But, there was a catch - only important people could use it. Regular people like farmers or merchants couldn’t use cursus publicus. This might seem unfair, but the government wanted to make sure important messages and people could travel quickly and safely.

Overall, cursus publicus was like a fancy transportation service just for important people in ancient Rome. It was a way for people to travel long distances quickly and safely, and it helped keep the Roman empire running smoothly.