1869

Opening of the Suez Canal

La Compagnie universelle du canal maritime de Suez (Universal Suez Ship Canal Company) began work on the Suez Canal in 1859, and it was inaugurated ten years later. This canal, which links the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, had a significant impact on the world goods trade, as it meant ships from Europe no longer had to sail round Africa to reach Asia. In 1956, the Suez Canal was the stage for a serious crisis involving Egypt, Britain and France.