Suez Canal Opens

Setting the scene

For centuries, ships sailed around Africa to reach Asia. Ferdinand de Lesseps obtained a concession in 1854 and began construction in 1859 using forced Egyptian labor.

What happened

The canal opened November 17, 1869, after 10 years and thousands of deaths. The 120-mile canal cut London-Bombay from 11,300 to 5,900 miles, saving 24 days. The opening was a lavish ceremony with European royalty.

Why it still matters

The canal transformed global trade, with 12% of world trade passing through today. Britain occupied Egypt in 1882 to protect it. The 1956 Suez Crisis ended British imperial power. The 2021 Ever Given blockage cost $9 billion daily. The canal exemplifies how infrastructure shapes geopolitics.

Background

It drastically shortened shipping routes between Europe and Asia.