Bloc magazine summer 25.

36 License to travel. These days, reaching for your passport at border control feels like second nature. But have you ever paused to wonder when, where and why these little booklets first came into existence? Spoiler alert, it wasn’t always so official. In fact, the history of the passport is a tale of emperors, assassins, and international drama worthy of a Netflix series. Long before biometric chips and stern-faced passport officers, travel documents were more like polite letters. In the Roman Empire, anyone venturing beyond the safety of home, say traders or diplomats, would carry a letter of permission, stating their purpose and who sent them. It was less about identity and more about "don’t hurt this guy-he’s with us." Fast forward to medieval Europe, and rulers took the idea up a notch. King Henry V of England personally issued safe conduct passes-at a cost. Over time, these powers were delegated to ministers, and the system became more widespread. France and Sweden had similar arrangements, with France coining the term passport-possibly from passer par les ports, meaning to pass through city gates or ports.