The Panama Canal

Short History Of...

Noiser

History

4.8 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2024

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A 50-mile man-made waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the creation of the Panama Canal was arguably the greatest infrastructure project the world had ever seen. But its journey from concept to completion was anything but simple, as it failed repeatedly, and passed through numerous pairs of hands, before a decade-long construction began, fronted by the United States. But what made the creation of the canal the single most expensive construction effort in American history, both in dollars and human life? Why did a seemingly simple ditch-digging exercise stump the era’s greatest engineers? And who was responsible for reversing the fate of the Panama Canal Project? This is a Short History Of the Panama Canal. A Noiser production, written by Olivia Jordan. With thanks to Julie Greene, Professor of History at the University of Maryland, and author of The Canal Builders. Get every episode of Short History Of a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material, and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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1:23.4	forward slash short.
1:39.3	It is late summer in 1990.
1:49.0	After two weeks at sea, the SS Ancon, a large American steamship, is preparing to dock in the Panamanian port town of Christobar.
2:00.0	Among the 1500 Barbadians, all men who are crowded shoulder to shoulder on the top deck, is a 22-year-old former teacher and his younger brother, a musician.
2:02.6	Like the rest of the passengers, they have made this journey on the promise of good employment,
2:07.1	a fair wage, and free living as laborers on the American-run Panama Canal project.
2:16.0	The boat is brought alongside the dock with a bump.
2:20.3	Slapping his brother excitedly on the back, the teacher watches as the dock workers lay long, planks down, bridging the distance from boat to shore.
	...

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