History Time Line
13th century BCE: A canal is constructed between the delta of the Nile and the Red Sea. For the following centuries, the canal was only partially maintained.
8th century CE: The canal is no longer maintained, and soon becomes unnavigable.
1854: By a French initiative, the viceroy of Egypt, Said Pasha, decides for the project of building a canal that would connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
1858: La Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez is formed to construct the canal. The company, which was owned by both French and Egyptian interests, should both build the canal, and administer it for the following 99 years. After this time, the ownership would pass over to the Egyptian government.
1859 April 25: Constructions begin.
1869 November 17: With great splendour, the canal is opened for navigation. Dimensions were 22 metre in bottom width, 58 metre in surface width, and a depth of 8 metres.
1875: The British government buys the Egyptian stocks.
1888: By an international convention, the canal is opened for ships of all nations.
1936: Through a treaty the British receives rights to keep military forces in the canal zone.
1948: Egyptian authorities introduce regulations against the use of the canal by vessels serving Israeli ports.
1954: Agreement between Egypt and Britain that provides for British withdrawal inside the following 7 years.
1956 June: As all British troops have left, Egyptian military moves into British installations.
July 26: Egypt nationalizes the Suez Canal.
1979: Unrestricted use for Israel is secured with the peace agreement between the two countries.
