The political unity under the Sui Dynasty (589-618) made it possible to build the Grand Imperial Canal (607-10) which is the world’s longest man-made waterway. It was 100 feet wide and 1,000 miles long lined with roads and trees. Building techniques were primitive with huge costs both human and financial. About half of the six million men recruited to build the canal died due to the harsh conditions. And the sheer cost of the Grand Imperial Canal, combined with other building projects, weakened the Sui Dynasty so much they were easily overthrown after less than thirty years in power. (The modern course of the canal is shown above, though it is little different from its original – mostly the cities have changed.)
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