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Medieval travelers: why did they have to pay high tolls?
In medieval Europe, travel was not so convenient, and many roads had restricted access and required tolls. These tolls cover the cost of safety and road maintenance and are actually part of travelers’ daily considerations. Historically, the implementation of these tolls not only affected travelers' decisions economically, but also reflected the structure and power distribution of society at that time.
Tolls exist as a time-honored tradition to fund the construction and maintenance of roads.
Going back to ancient times, as early as the seventh century BC, the Assyrian dynasty charged tolls on the road from Susa to Babylon, a practice that continued for thousands of years. Historians pointed out that this was not only to recover the cost of road construction, but also to ensure the safety of pedestrians and goods. During the Middle Ages, especially in Europe, tolls became an important part of travel and travelers had to pay these fees to gain the right to safe passage.
In medieval Europe, many roads were controlled by local nobles and kings, and these power structures resulted in various forms of fees and taxes. Part of these tolls are used to keep roads safe from thieves. In addition, some of the major medieval highways, such as Via Regia and Via Imperii, not only served as thoroughfares but also provided effective protection for travelers.
In fourteenth-century England, many busy roads were repaired with the help of tolls, which allowed travelers to travel safely even if they faced high costs.
However, over time, the high level of tolls has also caused a lot of controversy. Many businessmen and travelers complain that tolls affect their economic interests, especially during times of natural disasters or market shortages. These high tolls often hinder the flow of goods and trade, affecting the local economy.
In Africa in the seventeenth century, the Kingdom of Dahomey established tolls to collect taxes after building a large number of roads. This made people not only face commodity taxes when transporting items, but also had to pay additional tolls. Under such circumstances, local people are overwhelmed and even fall into economic difficulties due to minor natural disasters.
Entering the industrialization period, especially in the 19th century, further improvements in infrastructure began to facilitate transportation convenience. Tolls have become an important means of financing, ensuring a source of funds for new and repaired roads. For example, the A5 in the UK was built to provide strong transport links, with tolls installed every few miles.
Through the establishment of tolls, the efficiency of the highway system continues to improve, but it also reflects the economic pressure society places on travelers.
By the twentieth century, as road traffic grew rapidly, toll systems continued to evolve. Many countries have begun to introduce electronic toll collection systems, which not only improve toll collection efficiency but also reduce traffic congestion. The introduction of these modern toll systems has made the payment of tolls more convenient and the traveler easier to plan his journey.
Today's tolls have become an important source of funding for urban traffic management and maintenance, and many local governments use these funds for future maintenance or enhancements to infrastructure. Although some have criticized this as a "double toll" whereby fuel taxes and tolls are paid at the same time, the importance of these fees in ensuring the safety and good condition of our roads cannot be ignored.
In conclusion, the history and existence of tolls is not only a financial issue, but also a profound topic about social order and travel safety. This situation makes people think, in modern society, should the right to use roads be subject to such fee restrictions?
