Could Augustus have had a canal built across the Suez? Should he have?

[The Brain]

Maybe it has something to do with the mountains in Panama.  Could that be it?

Possibly. Are they above sea level?

[Admiral Yi]

Possibly. Are they above sea level?

Beets me.  Maybe we should ask.  Someone is bound to know.

[Monoriu]

It should be noted that the Sui dynasty that built those canals only lasted some 40 years, short by Chinese standards.  A big part of the reason is that the peasants revolted because too many people were conscripted to build the canals and too many died.  There were other reasons but the canals were a material contributing factor. 

The problem wasn't technology.  It was politics. 

[jimmy olsen]

Well I guess going back to the canal of Ptolemy II, I mean they had one already so why would it occur to them to build another one? I mean we know a Suez canal is better but did the Romans even think of building another access to the Red Sea?

A canal across the Suez would be accessible year round. The one connecting to the nile depends on the level of the Nile and requires a lot more maintenance due to the locks.

[jimmy olsen]

OTOH the Chinese canals went across populated areas, while the Suez canal would have to cross uninhabited desert? So there would be logistical problems in trying to build it back then.

You can supply them by ship and barge. No overland supply necessary.

[jimmy olsen]

OTOH the Chinese canals went across populated areas, while the Suez canal would have to cross uninhabited desert? So there would be logistical problems in trying to build it back then.

Yeah, I think the author grossly underestimates the cost of the canal by assuming that the workers would just magically appear, claim no more than the standard wage, take care of their own food and lodging, and then disappear when no longer needed.

Wouldn't most workers be slaves or legionaries?

[viper37]

How does a Suez canal compare to Chinese canal projects using essentially the same technology level? If a Suez canal wouldn't be a much bigger project than the biggest Chinese projects (single projects, not entire canal systems) then I think it's certain that the Romans COULD have done it.

they could have done it, and there were some canals made in antiquity, from the Nile to the Red Sea.
The problem however lies in maintaining it.  It has to be regularly redone. 

[viper37]

Well I guess going back to the canal of Ptolemy II, I mean they had one already so why would it occur to them to build another one? I mean we know a Suez canal is better but did the Romans even think of building another access to the Red Sea?

there was no direct link to the Red Sea by the time of Augustus, the Nile had moved and parts of the canal had been filled by sand.

[Darth Wagtaros]

OTOH the Chinese canals went across populated areas, while the Suez canal would have to cross uninhabited desert? So there would be logistical problems in trying to build it back then.

There wer major logistical problems when the Suez was built. 

[Habbaku]

OTOH the Chinese canals went across populated areas, while the Suez canal would have to cross uninhabited desert? So there would be logistical problems in trying to build it back then.

Yeah, I think the author grossly underestimates the cost of the canal by assuming that the workers would just magically appear, claim no more than the standard wage, take care of their own food and lodging, and then disappear when no longer needed.

Wouldn't most workers be slaves or legionnaires?

Rome didn't have legionnaires.

[Tamas]

Why would the Romans, and Augustus especially, care about the Red Sea, first of all?

[jimmy olsen]

OTOH the Chinese canals went across populated areas, while the Suez canal would have to cross uninhabited desert? So there would be logistical problems in trying to build it back then.

Yeah, I think the author grossly underestimates the cost of the canal by assuming that the workers would just magically appear, claim no more than the standard wage, take care of their own food and lodging, and then disappear when no longer needed.

Wouldn't most workers be slaves or legionnaires?

Rome didn't have legionnaires.

Shameful spelling error

[jimmy olsen]

Why would the Romans, and Augustus especially, care about the Red Sea, first of all?

He ordered a major invasion of Yemen. There were lots of rich trading cities on the coast of the Red Sea.

[Grey Fox]

OTOH the Chinese canals went across populated areas, while the Suez canal would have to cross uninhabited desert? So there would be logistical problems in trying to build it back then.

Yeah, I think the author grossly underestimates the cost of the canal by assuming that the workers would just magically appear, claim no more than the standard wage, take care of their own food and lodging, and then disappear when no longer needed.

Wouldn't most workers be slaves or legionnaires?

Rome didn't have legionnaires.

Shameful spelling error

[jimmy olsen]

OTOH the Chinese canals went across populated areas, while the Suez canal would have to cross uninhabited desert? So there would be logistical problems in trying to build it back then.

Yeah, I think the author grossly underestimates the cost of the canal by assuming that the workers would just magically appear, claim no more than the standard wage, take care of their own food and lodging, and then disappear when no longer needed.

Wouldn't most workers be slaves or legionnaires?

Rome didn't have legionnaires.

Shameful spelling error

Legionnaires
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legionnaires%27_disease

Legionaries
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legionary