In the heart of another starlit night at Behistun, as the cool mountain breeze caressed little Kourosh's cheeks and the stars seemed to whisper tales of future civilizations, he sat in Mithradates's simple hut, his mind soaring towards the fourth pillar of his empire: a global trade network. Kourosh knew well that the prosperity and splendor of a civilization depend not only on domestic production but also on a dynamic and extensive network that connects goods, ideas, and cultures beyond borders. The book "The Golden Roads" was meant to turn this grand dream into a practical roadmap for merchants, rulers, and future generations; a map that would not only make Iran the center of the global economy but also elevate the lives of people around the world to higher levels of prosperity and peace.
Kourosh looked at the state of trade in his own time. At that time, barter was the dominant method of exchange, but this system was full of inefficiencies and limitations. A farmer who had wheat had to find someone who both had tools and needed wheat to get the tools he needed. This process was not only time-consuming but also limited the volume of trade and prevented the formation of large, dynamic markets. Kourosh, with his twenty-first-century economic knowledge, had realized the importance of money as a medium of exchange. He decided to turn this chaos into a stable order by inventing standardized coins.
Minting gold and silver coins with a specific weight and purity, guaranteed by the government, was Kourosh's idea. In his mind, he had named these coins "Daric" for the gold coins and "Siglo" for the silver coins. These coins, bearing the image of the king or Persian symbols, would display not only the financial value but also the political and cultural prestige of the empire. In the book "The Golden Roads," Kourosh dedicated a chapter to the principles of coinage: from selecting pure metals and determining the exact purity to establishing central mints. He also designed a system for monitoring the quality of the coins and preventing counterfeiting to gain the trust of merchants and the people in this new money. These coins would make trade faster, fairer, and more widespread, turning Iran into a pioneer of economic innovation in the ancient world.
Kourosh thought of a proverb he had heard in the twenty-first century: "If you want to get rich, first build a road." He knew that without transportation infrastructure, no trade network could flourish. Therefore, the expansion of the Royal Roads was at the center of his plans. These roads were a network of safe and efficient routes that connected the cities of the empire and extended to the ports of the Persian Gulf, Mesopotamia, India, and even the Mediterranean coasts. In his book, Kourosh described the principles of building these roads: using smooth stones to reduce erosion, establishing rest stations equipped with water wells and food stores, and stationing guards to ensure the security of the caravans. He even thought of creating signposts in the various languages of the empire so that foreign merchants could also travel these routes with ease.
Kourosh also dreamed of turning Iran into a center of maritime trade. He thought of building new ports in the Persian Gulf and developing existing ones on the Mediterranean coasts so that merchant ships could easily transport goods like spices from India, silk from China, and grain from Egypt. He named this maritime network the "Blue Silk Road," which, alongside the "Land Silk Road," would make Iran the heart of global exchange. In "The Golden Roads," Kourosh presented plans for port management: from building sturdy docks and large warehouses to training sailors and merchants in navigation and maritime trade. He also thought of creating trade agreements with other nations to reduce customs tariffs and allow free trade to flourish.
Kourosh viewed trade not only as an economic tool but also as a bridge for peace and friendship among nations. He believed that strong trade relations make nations interdependent and prevent military conflicts. In his book, he formulated principles for trade diplomacy: respecting other cultures, concluding fair contracts, and encouraging merchants to exchange knowledge and technology. He also proposed the idea of creating international markets in key cities where merchants from all over the world could gather and exchange their goods, ideas, and cultures. These markets would be not only economic centers but also cultural hubs that would make Iran the heart of world civilization.
To strengthen local merchants, Kourosh designed a system of low-interest loans and tax exemptions for new merchants. He also thought of establishing "Schools of Commerce" where the principles of accounting, caravan management, and negotiation with foreign nations would be taught. These schools would empower merchants and help spread Persian culture and influence through trade. Kourosh also emphasized the diversity of export goods: from agricultural products like saffron and wheat to industrial goods like exquisite textiles, pottery, and metal tools. This diversity would make the empire's economy resilient to external shocks like drought or war.
Kourosh dreamed of a day when Persian coins would be recognized as the dominant currency not only in Iran but throughout the world. He wanted the phrase "Behold how far the Persian coin has gone" to be on people's tongues, alongside the famous phrase "Behold how far the Persian spear has gone," which showed military power, as a sign of Iran's economic and commercial influence—which, in real history, did happen, as for example, the Persian coin was highly valued by the Greeks. These coins, with their guaranteed value and credibility, would attract the trust of foreign merchants and make Iran the economic authority of the world. In "The Golden Roads," Kourosh dedicated a chapter to the importance of the credibility of money and its role in strengthening economic diplomacy.
With every line Kourosh wrote in "The Golden Roads," he envisioned a future in which Iran had become the beating heart of the global economy, and its roads carried not only goods but also knowledge, culture, and peace throughout the world. He wanted Arash and his companions to establish this trade network after his return, so that the Achaemenid Empire would be immortalized in history not only for its military power but also for its economic splendor.