Schip, woonboot en baggerschuit in het Suezkanaal c. 1870 - 1890

This photograph of a ship, houseboat, and dredger in the Suez Canal was created by C. & G. Zangaki. The image speaks to the canal's importance as a vital artery for global commerce and empire. Opened in 1869, it shortened sea routes between Europe and Asia, becoming a strategic asset, particularly for the British Empire. The Zangaki brothers, Greek photographers active in Egypt, captured this moment, likely for European tourists and investors eager to witness this marvel of engineering. The photograph isn't just a neutral record; it reflects the power dynamics of the time. Egypt, though nominally autonomous, was increasingly under European influence due to debts incurred during the canal's construction. Images like this, circulated in Europe, reinforced the idea of progress and control, obscuring the exploitation of Egyptian labor in the canal's creation. To fully understand this image, we can research the archives of the Suez Canal Company, scrutinize colonial-era travelogues, and analyze economic data related to shipping. By situating this photograph within its historical context, we can unpack its complex layers of meaning, revealing the intertwined histories of trade, technology, and imperialism.