Construction of Suez Canal

The Suez Canal opened in November 1869, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea across the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt and shortening the sea route between Europe and Asia by thousands of kilometres. It was built by the Suez Canal Company, founded by the French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps with the approval of the Egyptian ruler, and construction lasted about ten years. Much of the digging was done by Egyptian workers, many of them conscripted, and many died. The opening was celebrated with a lavish ceremony attended by European royalty, including the Empress Eugenie of France. In 1875 Britain bought Egypt's shares, and later it controlled the canal zone. President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the canal in 1956, which led to the Suez Crisis.

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