https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medes#Prehistory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medes#Prehistory A substantial portion of the indicated area in the map later beca

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medes#Prehistory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medes#Prehistory A substantial portion of the indicated area in the map later became the Median empire. Above link discusses the "power vacuum" in that area before the establishment of centralized power, which would explain the lack of state involvement as there was no sovereign counter party to the trade treaty for the consuming power. This also may explain why the first Iranian dynasty were the Medes in that specific part of today's Iran (and not in the southern zone like the Persians who came to power later) - looks like it was most likely an outgrowth of economic activity. Also note that there was a significant Israelite community in that center dot in Iran (which was called Rhages and is now called Ray, now a suburb of Tehran). The Book of Tobit mentions the community of Israelites in Rhages and how Tobin sent his son Tobit to Rhages to get a proper wife. The book is ~2300 years old so 1000 years after the subject of the article, so not entirely conclusive but possible that a 'trade network' that spanned that zone in fact existed and had some cohesion (it was Israelite) and that is what facilitated this entire affair. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Tobit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Tobit "Tobit's son Tobias is sent to retrieve ten silver talents that Tobit once left in Rages". Why did he leave it there? He was a trades man, that's why. - [edit] p.s.: fact checking this the Israelite tribe of this book was deported ~723 BC so my theory does not hold up.