Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 521 Peninsula Tribes
Kuwait City is a far cry from what it once was; who would have thought it was just a small town twenty years ago? It fell into decline after the East India Company withdrew its headquarters. Its current resurgence owes much to Iran.

The Sabah family also became wealthy and extensively renovated their fortress. The tribe had never imagined that modern society would be so convenient.

This loom can weave such beautiful fabrics and carpets, and even preserve perishable fruits by canning them for long-term storage. This is so much better than before.

The current head of the Sabah family is Abdullah II. Through the efforts of his father and grandfather, the family now possesses wealth that would have taken centuries to accumulate. He is content to live as a nobleman, receiving ample benefits from the Iranian government and supporting the Shah. 30% of Kuwait City's tax revenue belongs to the Sabah family, which can be considered a benefit from the Iranian government.

"Ha, try this canned food. I never thought I could get vegetables here. Is this the blessing of the Shah?"

King Abdullah II invited other members of his family to a banquet at the castle. Although canned food had been on the table for several years, it still seemed novel to many.

“Thanks to Shah, our lives are much better now.”

Everyone agreed with this statement: although the Ottomans treated them well, they only recognized their autonomy and did nothing else.

Iran is different. Although the tribe had to relinquish political rights and provide Arab cavalry, Iran also gave them a lot in return. This included supporting infrastructure and financial investment, and the company's stock was carefully preserved, as it was the tribe's most important source of income each year.

Now, in addition to herding and farming, the tribes under Sabah's rule are also engaged in trade and military affairs. Some are already generals in Iran, while others have taken civil service exams and entered the government.

Many tribes today take pride in intermarrying with Iranian nobles. The largest tribe, the Shamari, has intermarried with several members of the Iranian royal family, and has even married its daughters to the Shah. It is now the leading tribe on the peninsula.

"Have you heard? It's all the rage now to buy land in other places and build factories."

"Hasn't this been the trend for the past ten years? Besides, factories aren't guaranteed to make money these days; only land is stable."

Although Iran's economy is still developing, factories are no longer the guaranteed money they used to be. Bankruptcies are rampant, mostly due to cash flow problems, and the government is discussing how to address this issue.

"Ah, Uncle Salman, factories naturally make and lose money. Life can't always be smooth sailing, but the profits from factories are something shops can't achieve."

The young Ibn refuted this view. As a graduate of the University of Tehran and someone who had traveled extensively in both Britain and Prussia, he argued that industry was the future of the nation, and even with significant initial investment, it should not be easily abandoned.

"That makes sense, that makes sense. Young people have a different perspective." Although he didn't know what he was saying, he was right anyway. The current situation was beyond the control of tribal elders like them. Even if some people disagreed, with Iranian cannons positioned outside the city, they had no choice but to submit.

The tribes of Mecca likely have more to say, as previous unpleasantness had strained relations between some local tribes and the Iranian government. In 1865, they launched a rebellion, which was subsequently suppressed by pro-Iranian tribes in the area.

Iran's rule in Mecca is mainly based on tribes, Mecca merchant groups, and clerics. Although the area is divided into provinces, high-ranking officials and mayors are all respected local figures. Only government departments and institutions such as the railway bureau are managed by the central government of Iran.

The Mecca Merchants' Guild underwent a transformation by the Iranian government, which, through inducements and reassignments, expanded the government's influence to half its size. Subsequently, the government completely seized control of the guild.

With the expansion of Jeddah Port and the development of the Yanbu Industrial Zone, the economic center gradually shifted to these two locations. This weakened the economic power of the local tribes, forcing them to make concessions on issues such as railway construction and telegraph installation.

The secular world is struggling, so what about the religious world? Sorry, it won't work either. The Shah of Iran serves as the guardian of both holy sites, but the local administration is jointly managed by Shia and Sunni Muslims. It's worth noting that the two sects are known for their explosive fighting and high level of aggression, leading to one of the largest clashes in history.

In May 1864, at the end of the Hajj season, hundreds of Sunni pilgrims were stranded in Mecca. The Iranian-appointed Mecca Sharif, under the pretext of "epidemic prevention checks," detained a shipment of religious texts being transported from Constantinople. This sparked strong protests from the pilgrims, and the Iranian army responsible for maintaining order sided with the Shia scholars, ultimately leading to a large-scale bloody clash between the two sides at the Grand Mosque.

Sunni pilgrims destroyed copper lampstands in mosques to use as clubs, while Shia scholars retaliated by waving prayer rugs. Mecca garrison troops rushed to the scene and arrested 148 of the most serious offenders. The incident resulted in 186 deaths, as well as damage to the Kaer silver drainage system and the collapse of 12 pillars in the Safa-Malwa corridor.

The event is known as the "Second Karbala" by Shiites and the "Ramadan Purification Movement" by Sunnis. It remains a sensitive topic, and the fate of those involved remains unknown.

However, Iran subsequently became even more hostile towards Sunnis. While not openly so, it subtly hindered them. Simultaneously, it accelerated the assimilation process of Arabs, making the region one of the fastest-growing areas for school construction.

To maintain connections between mainland Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, the government decided to relocate the capital to Baghdad. The route from Dhahran to Khufuf, then to Riyadh, and finally to Mecca follows a traditional trade route through the Arabian Peninsula. The construction of the railway along this route was fraught with difficulties, but the Shah repeatedly stated that it must be completed no matter the obstacles. The Iranian Ministry of Transport had to negotiate numerous plans with the railway company, and later, to facilitate tree planting, the agricultural and forestry departments were also involved.

The government has allocated 1400 million riyals to the railway, but long-term maintenance will be needed to extend its lifespan, considering the environment of the peninsula. Station staff along the route also need higher salaries to prevent them from becoming bored. The total construction cost is estimated at 2500 million riyals, with future maintenance costs expected to reach 400 million riyals.

Nasser al-Din also wanted to complete the railway around the peninsula, but the most important city, Aden, was still in British hands. No matter what he said, the British wouldn't give it up. Moreover, with the imminent opening of the Suez Canal, the Red Sea would become extremely busy, making it even less likely that Britain would relinquish it.

Ah, Egypt, Shah almost forgot about him. After all, he's one of the three major powers in the Middle East, how could we not include him?
(End of this chapter)