Understated Conflicts: The Role Of European Imperialism In The 19th Century

The British perspective is present with the British Consul watching English ships crossing the Egyptian desert that had to go around the tip of Africa before. The Suez was built by French engineers, and although the English became a major shareholder in the Canal, the French retained control.7 British troops later protected the Canal as it was essential to British trade and colonization. There is understated rivalry here, but on the other hand, the modern European nations are shown co-operating on colonial and economic enterprises.8 According to Hsuan L. Hsu, “When Ferdinand de Lesseps acquired permission from Egyptian authorities to begin construction in 1859, Britain attempted to intervene, perceiving the canal as a potential source of imperial