Ep 51. Suez Canal

The Suez Canal is considered to be one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century, and Modern Marvels brings you an episode that highlights its origins and history in detail. Spanning over 100 miles, the Suez Canal was built to connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, and it remains a crucial trade route that facilitates international shipping and commerce. The show offers a comprehensive account of how the canal was constructed and how it has been maintained over time.

The episode takes us back to the 19th century when the idea for the canal was first proposed. At the time, travel between Europe and Asia was a grueling, 13,000-mile journey that required sailing around the southern tip of Africa, which was expensive and time-consuming. An engineer named Ferdinand de Lesseps came up with the idea to build a canal that would connect the Mediterranean and Red seas, thus saving time, money, and lives in the process. Modern Marvels chronicles Lesseps' rigorous planning and navigation through numerous obstacles, including political, financial, and geographical hindrances to make the canal a reality.

The show also covers the groundbreaking technology used to construct the canal. Over 20,000 workers were brought from different parts of the world to work on the canal, including men from Europe, Africa, and India. To dig the canal, the laborers used methods that were considered cutting-edge at the time. They utilized manual labor to dig, haul and transport dirt, sand and other debris, and the episode covers in detail how the canal was carved through the rugged Egyptian terrain while also serving as a source of engineering knowledge generation that would be important for future projects.

In addition to the construction and history of the canal, Modern Marvels covers how the canal has been managed and upgraded over the years. Several upgrades have been made to the canal to expand its capacity and accommodate more substantial ships. The episode also focuses on the challenges that the canal faced, including the blockage caused by the Ever Given ship in 2021 (a potential spoiler) and the need to balance the interests of various stakeholders who depend on the canal.

Moreover, the show lays bare the Suez Canal Company's legal and economic history. It highlights the company's creation, how it managed the canal in its early days, and its sale to the British Empire. Through this, the show also delves into the political effect of the canal's construction on the countries and people involved.

Overall, Modern Marvels Season 9 Episode 51, Suez Canal, offers in-depth insight into one of the world's most critical engineering marvels, the men who built it, and the people who have managed it over the years. From the canal's history to its engineering and economic impact, the show provides a comprehensive account that is engaging and informative. It's a fantastic watch for anyone interested in engineering, history, and world trade.