July 1848. During the “Year of Revolution” in Europe, a Persian prisoner and a Persian nobleman, separated in space but united in purpose, dramatically set in motion forces destined to guide a maturing world toward unity and true freedom. More than a century and a half later, the seeds planted by those twin visionaries have begun to bear fruit. Their message speaks even more pointedly to the modern world as, still deeply divided, it gropes towards the ideals they set forth. Too long overlooked, the events that took place that month in the small Persian village of Badasht call out for our consideration.