Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 325 Technology and Cities

“Sedik, what’s wrong with you? You missed the party yesterday.”

"I'm so sorry, I was so engrossed in studying generators yesterday that I fell asleep."

Several people were speechless at this guy named Saidik. This had happened several times already. No matter how much research he did on generators, it shouldn't have come to this. Foreign things from Europe, it would take several years to make a breakthrough.

The National Academy of Sciences in Tehran was established in recent years with the support of the national treasury and recruits pioneering individuals from various universities. In recent years, the national and royal treasury allocations have reached 600 million rials, and the government will try its best to meet their needs.

Iran's research into electricity dates back to 1850, when Nasser al-Din personally ordered funding and manpower to be provided for the research. He also recruited Europeans to conduct the research, and Iran actually found one: Zinab Gholam.

Upon learning of Iran's talent recruitment plan, Gholam decided to travel to Tehran to work on his project. Over the next few years, with funding from Iran, he refined the generator. In 1857, he completed Iran's first DC generator, and two years later, he completed an AC generator.

A while ago, the government imported several generators newly developed by Prussia. These are quite rare; very few people in the world research this. These generators are mainly for experiments and demonstrations, and are difficult to apply to actual industrial or commercial use. Seidk is completely absorbed, studying them every day; it's anyone's guess what he'll discover.

"Faraday of Britain published his work on electromagnetic induction and invented the generator. If we can develop a machine that can generate electricity cheaply, it will be enough for us to make a mark on history."

Everyone knows the allure, but it's incredibly difficult; progress is unlikely in the next three to five years. Generator output is unstable, making it hard to meet the demands of industrial applications. Faraday's principle of electromagnetic induction provides the theoretical basis for generator design, but translating it into practical, efficient power generation equipment remains a challenge.

“You see, the principle behind this generator is actually not complicated,” said Saidik, pointing to the machine. “Faraday’s theory of electromagnetic induction tells us that as long as a conductor moves in a magnetic field, an electric current can be generated. This machine utilizes this principle.”

As Seidk spoke, he connected the wires in his hands, but a sharp-eyed person noticed that he had also connected the wires to another generator. However, he didn't say anything, wanting to see the other person make a fool of themselves.

"Now, all we need to do is connect these wires together, and then..."

At this point, Seidk realized he had connected the wires incorrectly. He had connected the power from another generator to the current output terminal of his own generator. Just as he was about to correct it, an unexpected phenomenon occurred. The current from the first generator flowed into the armature coil of the second generator, causing it to spin rapidly, turning the generator into a motor.

"This...is truly a miracle."

“Saidik, what’s going on?” a colleague asked.

Sadik quickly regained his composure and began to explain, “I accidentally connected the output of the first generator to the armature coil of the second generator. As a result, the second generator not only failed to generate electricity, but instead started spinning—a masterpiece that could change history.” “What does that mean?” another colleague asked.

Sadiq's eyes gleamed with excitement: "This means we can obtain a large amount of cheap electricity. As long as we change the way the current is input and output, the generator can output a large amount of electrical energy!"

Everyone quickly grabbed their notebooks and began meticulously recording the experiment's process and results. They all knew that this discovery would have a profound impact on the development of electrical technology.

Beyond electricity, Iran has also made progress in areas such as oil and internal combustion engines. This government-driven research and development is progressing very rapidly. Nasser al-Din frequently involves companies in collaborating with research to invent new products. Under these circumstances, technologies that have not yet been developed in Europe are taking root and flourishing in Iran.

These technologies haven't shown results yet, but investment continues, as the internal combustion engine is the future trend.

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Construction in Baghdad has been ongoing for three years, during which Iran has invested over 1500 million rials. The area is taking shape, and funds have been invested in managing the Euphrates and Tigris rivers to maximize agricultural benefits. Numerous dams and irrigation canals have been built, transforming vast tracts of barren land into fertile farmland.

Local industries have also developed, with 86 factories currently operating in the area, mostly light industries such as textiles, food, and furniture.

Baghdad's urban planning drew on European experience, featuring wide streets and a rational layout divided into commercial, industrial, and residential areas. This rapid development attracted a large influx of immigrants from all over Iran, seeking work and opportunities. This diverse population, including Persians, Arabs, Kurds, and Armenians, created a vibrant society.

The government plans to build a heavy industrial base in Baghdad, including steel mills, chemical plants, and machinery manufacturing plants, to further upgrade the city's industrial level. A railway line connecting Baghdad and Tehran is nearing completion, and in the future, this railway will extend to ports on the Persian Gulf, further promoting international trade.

Along the Euphrates River, Baghdad has built a modern river port capable of accommodating large cargo ships. With the improvement of railways and ports, Baghdad will become an important hub for trade between Iran and Europe, India, and the Middle East.

In 1861, Baghdad was rapidly emerging as a modern metropolis. This city was not only a symbol of Iran's industrialization and modernization, but also a model of cultural and economic development in the Middle East.

Not only Baghdad, but also Basra, Dhahran, Mosul, Trabisun, Van, and Erzurum—these newly added cities are developing at an unprecedented pace. Trade in the Persian Gulf is booming. Merchant ships crisscross the north and south, bringing goods from India, Arabia, and Africa. Iranian textiles, oil, and food are exported worldwide via these ships. All of this is possible under Iranian rule. Even those most opposed to the Iranian government have to admit that they have made themselves wealthy.

It's all about making money, and it also frees you from those protective obligations—why not? The elders of the desert abandoned their inland lives and settled in the cities. If society became unstable, they would return. But Nasser al-Din wouldn't let them have their way; even if he earned less, he wouldn't allow tribalism to return to Iran.

(End of this chapter)