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I’m actually really curious about this! It was built in the mid 19th century, was there excavators then? Or was it shovels and manpower? I looked on wikipedia h

by OskarS 6y ago

I’m actually really curious about this! It was built in the mid 19th century, was there excavators then? Or was it shovels and manpower? I looked on wikipedia hoping to find some info, but was sadly disappointed. I would TOTALLY read an in depth article on how, practically, the Suez canal was actually built.

nicoburns 6y ago
"Construction began in April 1859, and at first digging was done by hand with picks and shovels wielded by forced laborers. Later, European workers with dredgers and steam shovels arrived" https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/suez-canal-opens https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/suez-canal-opens
- herendin2 6y ago
  Depiction of a steam dregdger working on the Suez Canal https://www.alamy.com/suez-dredgers-canal-build-dig-excavate-lock-steam-steamer-sail-ship-image6210051.html https://www.alamy.com/suez-dredgers-canal-build-dig-excavate...
SirLotsaLocks 6y ago
I'd imagine a lot of explosions too. Most big excavation back then used explosions but also a lot of individual manpower as well.
emilssolmanis 6y ago
Slaves, lots and lots of slaves, many of whom died. Exactly as you'd imagine something of epic proportions being made in the 19th century.
- Clewza313 6y ago
  It was built with corvee labor, which is not quite the same thing: unpaid, yes, but done by farmers etc as a form of taxation in kind.
  - arwineap 6y ago
    Taxation imposed by the state, but I haven't been able to find any citation of a tax code so to speak. It seems like state sponsored slavery, without a trade. That is no persons are being sold because they are simply using citizens Brutal.
    - EricE 6y ago
      Oh come now, governments can’t impose slavery - it was just taxation after all /s
  - mannerheim 6y ago
    Slavery doesn't have to do with whether it was paid or not (many slaves have historically been paid as well) but rather the voluntariness of their work.

by OskarS 6y ago

nicoburns 6y ago

"Construction began in April 1859, and at first digging was done by hand with picks and shovels wielded by forced laborers. Later, European workers with dredgers and steam shovels arrived" https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/suez-canal-opens https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/suez-canal-opens

herendin2 6y ago
Depiction of a steam dregdger working on the Suez Canal https://www.alamy.com/suez-dredgers-canal-build-dig-excavate-lock-steam-steamer-sail-ship-image6210051.html https://www.alamy.com/suez-dredgers-canal-build-dig-excavate...

SirLotsaLocks 6y ago

I'd imagine a lot of explosions too. Most big excavation back then used explosions but also a lot of individual manpower as well.

emilssolmanis 6y ago

Slaves, lots and lots of slaves, many of whom died. Exactly as you'd imagine something of epic proportions being made in the 19th century.

Clewza313 6y ago
It was built with corvee labor, which is not quite the same thing: unpaid, yes, but done by farmers etc as a form of taxation in kind.
- arwineap 6y ago
  Taxation imposed by the state, but I haven't been able to find any citation of a tax code so to speak. It seems like state sponsored slavery, without a trade. That is no persons are being sold because they are simply using citizens Brutal.
  - EricE 6y ago
    Oh come now, governments can’t impose slavery - it was just taxation after all /s
- mannerheim 6y ago
  Slavery doesn't have to do with whether it was paid or not (many slaves have historically been paid as well) but rather the voluntariness of their work.