The ships of the desert: part 1/ the canal of Ferdinand

Collection title

Thalassa : le magazine de la mer

ID

INA00125

Source

INA (FR)

First broadcast date

11/22/1991

Production year

1991

Abstract

The first part of this program in two parts, outlines the history of the construction of the Suez Canal and the previous attempts that had failed. Ferdinand de Lesseps had the brilliant idea to base the Universal Company of Suez,by appealing to small shareholders. This case, which proved very profitable, became a state within a state, and the French bourgeoisie, who participated by agreeing to live in Egypt, lived folded on itself and its privileges, ignoring the host country. Amin Fakhri Abdelnour speaks about the friendship that had developed between Ferdinand de Lesseps and a local potentate who gave him, in 1854, the exclusive power to form a universal campaign for the piercing of the Isthmus of Suez and the operation of a channel between the two seas.

Type

video

Production companies

• France Régions 3 - Own production

Broadcaster

FTV - F3

Audiovisual form

Magazine

Personalities

• Lesseps Ferdinand de

Primary theme

Roads and transports

Secondary themes

• Historical heritages
• Society and way of life
• Tourism and cultural sites / Urbanism and cities / Main harbours

Credits / Cast

• Loiseau Jean - Journalist

Period of events

• From 1850 to 1900

Map locations

• Egypt - Lower Egypt - Port Said

Original language

French

Media running time

24m52

Additional information

Documents : Compagnie de Suez.