Paiza
Also called: Gerege · Topic: Nomadic Empires: The Mongols · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "An Empire Across Three Continents"
Meaning
A paiza was a pass given to travellers for safe passage across the Mongol empire. Its Persian name was paiza and its Mongolian name was gerege. Carrying one showed that the traveller accepted Mongol authority. Traders also paid the baj, a tax on trade, which likewise accepted Mongol rule. Passes like this helped make travel safe during the Pax Mongolica.
Example
In the 13th century, a merchant travelling the Silk Route from Iran to Karakorum would carry a paiza/gerege to show he was under the Great Khan's protection, and would pay the baj on his goods.
Don't confuse with
- Yam: the courier system of riders and fresh horses kept at outposts. The paiza was a pass for travellers, not a postal network.
- Qubcur: a tax of one-tenth of the nomads' herds, which paid for the yam. It was not a tax paid by traders.