Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 526 End of 1866

At a dye factory outside London, Parkin, the inventor of aniline purple, was speechless with shock as he looked at the Iranian dye he had purchased.

"This is Iranian dye?"

Parkin looked again, unsure, and the packaging did indeed say it was imported from Iran. British traders wouldn't be so confused; this product is definitely not available in the UK.

Parkin looked at the other colors, and realized that Iranian dyes were far superior to his own in both quality and cost. Even for aniline purple, Iran's cost was a third lower. If it weren't for tariffs, he would have been completely wiped out.

"Quickly, hire a few more people, we must keep costs down. Also, cut workers' wages by one-third, and make them work six days a week."

Not only Parkin, but several other dye factory owners were also worried. They feared that if large quantities of Iranian dye entered the market, they would go bankrupt.

Along with them are landowners who have bought land in India, where indigo cultivation is a crucial raw material for dyeing. The increasing use of synthetic dyes has already impacted their interests. High tariffs on Iranian dyes must be imposed to keep their products out of the country.

However, for every opponent, there is a supporter. Iranian dyes are of good quality and low price. If they set up factories overseas, the price of dyes could be reduced by another third.

Austrian textile manufacturers are delighted, as these dyes can be used to make more and better products. Moreover, thanks to the friendly relations between Iran and Austria, they can import them at more favorable prices, making them more competitive in the world market.

British and Austrian merchants made different choices regarding Iranian dyes. The reason was simple: Iranian dyes were of high quality, diverse in variety, and low in cost, and they couldn't produce them themselves. They had no choice but to import from Iran.

Following kerosene, Iran has taken the lead in chemical dyes, making them another powerful export commodity. British industrialists feel they are losing some of their ability to export globally.

Iran continues to export its goods and influence, and the first loan to Paraguay is in place. The new King Juan Carlos sold the rights to build railways and install telegraph lines in Paraguay to Iran, retaining nearly a half of the shares himself, though Iran is now responsible for the construction.

Paraguay's mineral resources, after exploration, show that coal and iron ore deposits are mostly small-scale, while salt and limestone mines are plentiful. In addition, Paraguay has abundant water and forest resources, including important rivers such as the Guarani and Paraná, making it a good candidate for developing shipping and papermaking industries.

Local agriculture also holds significant potential, with major agricultural products including soybeans, cotton, tobacco, wheat, and corn. Paraguay's future economy depends on them.

Furthermore, Paraguay's population is also a problem. Devastated by war, Paraguay has only about 60 people, which is insufficient for a country with hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of land. Therefore, attracting immigrants is paramount. Loans provided by Iran have significantly alleviated their shortage, but this has also inadvertently tied Paraguay to Iran's interests. Its former independent status has vanished, replaced by a nation dependent on the Iranian market.

But this is the best option for them. With the backing of Iranian funds, they can pull themselves out of their previous predicament. Next comes recruiting immigrants, cultivating farmland, and a whole host of other tasks awaiting them.

Paraguay also signed a ceasefire agreement with Brazil and Uruguay on July 12, officially ending the war. Brazil lost a large amount of land, although it was mostly undeveloped rainforest. But for Pedro II, this was enough to cause unrest among the liberals. The issue of slavery had to be addressed, and the domestic economy was in chaos, which would keep him busy for a while.

The biggest winner was undoubtedly the Al-Jan Sultanate, with vast amounts of land and wealth falling into Abbas's hands. To better govern, Amir, the former Iranian Grand Vizier, arrived and became the Sultan's Grand Vizier. Utilizing his administrative experience, he began to transform the region.

Agriculture is the most important sector in the area, and Aljan Agricultural Company was established to manage such a large area of ​​arable land. With a registered capital of 1.5 million riyals, it owns 120,000 acres of arable land. This is also the largest company in the region, responsible for providing revenue to the government.

The local white people, unable to leave, resigned themselves to their fate and settled down. Aside from some painful integration issues related to religion, culture, and language, they fared relatively well. The Sudanese treated them better than the president; although they had lost political power, they gained the prerequisite of a stable life.

Beginning in 1861, the landscape of North and South America began to shift. The United States was no longer the sole superpower, and Europe began to re-enter the fray.

In North America, the United States of America, the Confederate States of America, Mexico, French Louisiana, Canada, British Columbia, and five smaller nations—Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and the Indian subcontinent—struggled to survive in the cracks. What was originally a Anglo-American struggle had become a Warring States period, providing a spectacle to watch from North America.

France attached great importance to this colony, and Napoleon III granted it very generous incentives. Banks were encouraged to invest there, and within four years, France had invested over 300 million francs in Louisiana. Many nobles also purchased land and settled there. It was even more important than Algeria; French immigrants who originally planned to emigrate to Algeria were willing to spend more money to go to Louisiana.

While Britain was pushing for the formation of the Canadian Confederation, British Columbia proved remarkably rebellious. The province had initially prospered from the gold rush, but when that boom ended, the population fled. However, the Irish filled the gap remarkably well. Nearly 150 million Irish people migrated from the Great Lakes, becoming a rich source of labor for the local population.

Like most people, agriculture and land reclamation became their primary occupation. And unlike Americans, they learned to coexist peacefully with Native Americans, with numerous instances of intermarriage between the two groups. Railroads were also built; how could so many places function without them?
They spontaneously formed town councils and city councils, and in 1865, the Provincial Representative Council of British Columbia was established. Representatives were elected from these councils to discuss policy, and Britain turned a blind eye to this. The cost was too high; this was the only option.

Mexico, in its final days, was quite peaceful. Having finally stabilized, it naturally focused on economic development. No longer needing to be beholden to the Americans, they could trade freely – there couldn't be a better example.

1866 was also a year of world peace, although such peace was fragile.

(End of this chapter)