Dr Bob Bowker, Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies ANU College of Arts & Social Science, joins Michael to talk about The Suez Canal, which was constructed between 1859 and 1869 and officially opened 150 years ago on 17th November 1869.

The man-made waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea enabled a more direct route for shipping between Europe & Asia, effectively allowing for passage from the North Atlantic to the Indian Ocean without having to circumnavigate the African continent.

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