<prompt> Translate the following text to EnglishWaperusi waliwatamani zaidi ya miaka 7,000 iliyopita, na walikuwa hatua ya kwanza kwenye njia ndefu za biashara za Mashariki na Magharibi katika nyakati za Wagiriki na Waroma.  <response>: The Persians coveted them over 7,000 years ago, and they were stepping-stones on the long East West trading routes throughout Hellenistic and Roman times. 