Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 251 Technology Tree

Gorchakov kept saying he wanted to meet with the Shah to report in person, but he couldn't get a chance. Besides having Amir discuss things more comprehensively with him, the Shah genuinely didn't have the time, because his chosen technology tree had blossomed.

"This is the gas-powered machine you invented?"

"Yes, Shah, to be precise, it improved upon the machines invented by people before. It obtains power by burning gas, and although the power output is relatively small, it has great potential for development."

Etienne Lenoir introduced Nasser al-Din to his newly invented internal combustion engine, after receiving a reward for helping Iran improve its telegraph system. Of course, his most important contributions were his mechanical inventions.

He also signed up when Iran recruited in Europe and was subsequently assigned to the power laboratory in Tehran. Knowing that the Shah wanted more efficient power machinery, and that Iran's water shortage would put a lot of pressure on the large-scale use of steam engines, he adopted gas as a power source and worked with others to develop the current internal combustion engine.

Although the steam engine was dominating the Industrial Revolution, people longed for a lighter and more efficient power source. In 1801, French chemist Philippe Leyen invented the gas-hydrogen internal combustion engine. He used coal gas obtained from the dry distillation of coal and hydrogen, mixed it with air, and ignited it to generate expansion force that pushed the piston. Combining the technologies of his predecessors, this led to the internal combustion engine we know today.

"This is a world-changing invention, but why use gas instead of the fuel I told you about before?"

Lenoir offered his explanation: while the fuel was easy to burn, the machine wasn't suited to it and broke down after just one use. They are developing a machine suitable for gasoline, which is estimated to be several years away.

"Keep up the good work, think carefully, and the whole world will thank you when all the factories of the future use the machines you developed."

Nasser al-Din painted such a picture for Lenoir and others, along with rewards, including not only money but also noble titles and ranks. Iran invests heavily in scientific research, as it relies on this to achieve a leapfrog development.

“Shah, primary schools in our country are now basically covered in the west and central regions. The progress in the east is a bit slow, but it is also accelerating.”

Education Minister Yousef bin Ibrahim, standing nearby, reported to Nasser al-Din on the state of education, noting that education spending has consistently accounted for 15% to 20% of the national budget over the past five years, second only to military spending.

而现在的情况也的确对得起这几年的付出，大量的中小学拔地而起，教师数量从1850年的1569人增加到现在的12892人、学生数量从15692人增加到646324人，大学生数量则达到2685人。

In a country of 1500 million people, students make up 4.2% of the total population. This is a significant improvement, but still far behind Europe. Some teachers are converted from religious schools, resulting in some inconsistency in teacher quality. After the civil war, secular education completely overshadowed religious education, leading to a surge in new schools. Every year, a large number of new teachers enter the education system. The Iranian government provides them with the same guarantees as civil servants, making the annual teacher recruitment exams just as attractive as the civil service exams.

Besides domestic education, studying abroad is also an important part of Iran's education system. Every year, Iran selects 150 students to study in Europe, including 75 to the UK, 50 to Prussia, and 25 to Austria. As for France… it's too dangerous, so let's skip it.

To meet the needs of industrial development, the Iranian government has been actively developing vocational education to cultivate mid-level technical and various professional personnel. In recent years, supplementary schools originally established on the basis of primary school education have gradually transformed into technical schools and specialized colleges. This has played a significant role in the development of Iranian industry. "To achieve nationwide primary school coverage, more funding and time are needed. The Ministry of Education must achieve nationwide coverage; not a single child can be left behind."

A single sentence from the Shah can require the department to expend considerable manpower and resources to resolve. However, education has become one of the three most important projects, alongside the military and the economy, and it must be pursued no matter how difficult it may be.

"obey"

In terms of education, the royal family has also put a lot of effort into it. For example, they established the King's Scholarship to encourage students to pursue university studies, and the Crescent Fund to support the education of children from poor families. Furthermore, he took the lead by donating 100,000 rials, which prompted many nobles to also contribute, raising 956,200 rials in the first round.

No religious monarch has ever done this before, but Iran has. Even the Ottoman Sultan could not.

Furthermore, the royal family places particular emphasis on technological cooperation with European countries, especially companies in the German region, with whom Iran engages in scientific and technological research and development. As a rising industrial power, getting on this bandwagon is essential for Iran.

Various Prussian enterprises have also received investments from the royal family to varying degrees. For example, 33% of the shares in the Krupp factory belong to the Iranian royal family.

The Lion Group has established a branch in Frankfurt, Prussia, to oversee investments in Europe. The development of the German Customs Union spurred rapid economic growth in Central Europe, with cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Prague playing a more significant economic role due to railway connections. Iran has invested to varying degrees in local industries, and the Iranian Trade Bank has branches in Hamburg and London to serve Iranian businesses in the region.

However, investing in Germany can be challenging, as it's also home to many bankers. Frankfurt alone has over 40 family banks, making it difficult to decide who to entrust with investments.

Besides internal combustion engines, Iran is investing in new sectors such as oil, chemicals, and electricity. Relying on revenues from oil companies, the government has gradually gained more funds to invest in these areas.

If the technological inventions of the First Industrial Revolution mainly stemmed from the accumulated experience of craftsmen, then the upcoming Second Industrial Revolution was driven by the deep integration of science and industry, which propelled the rapid development of productivity.

Compared to the singular development model of the First Industrial Revolution in Britain, the Second Industrial Revolution presented a diversified global landscape, with major countries advancing in tandem in the wave of technological innovation. The speed of invention and the efficiency of application both increased significantly, forming a global productivity revolution.

Iran has followed Prussia's example in implementing education reforms, with a particular emphasis on vocational education. Prussia's dual system of education combines theoretical learning with practical training, equipping students with a wealth of skills before they enter the workforce. This model has not only provided industry with a large pool of qualified skilled workers but also fostered innovation and the transmission of technology. Combined with Iran's abundant resources, these factors have contributed to the flourishing of Iran's technological development.

(End of this chapter)