9781422281192

In 1869, the Suez Canal was opened across the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt. The 121-mile (165-kilometer) canal linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea to the south, and the Indian Ocean beyond. Previously, ships traveling between ports in Asia and Europe had to sail around the entire continent of Africa. By using the new canal, ships could save thousands of miles and several weeks. This resulted in tremendous savings in shipping costs. In 1914, after a decade of construction, the Panama Canal opened, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Previously, cargo and passenger vessels traveling between

Work continues on a project to create a third set of locks, which would allow larger ships to transit the Panama Canal. The canal expansion project was finally completed in 2016.

Trading Methods Then and Now 11