Non-simultaneity in the construction of the Canal du Midi

The construction of the Canal du Midi, a 17th-century French navigational canal renowned for its length and technical sophistication, reveals a pattern of non-simultaneity in work practices that challenges conventional narratives of modernization. This study demonstrates how the canal's development integrated ancient knowledge with contemporary problem-solving, extending well into the 1680s with ongoing repairs. A snapshot of activity from March 1672 highlights the asynchronous nature of cultural and technical practices employed across the project, offering a unique lens to understand innovation in historical infrastructure. The research underscores non-simultaneity as a facilitator of complex, long-term engineering achievements.

Mukerji, C. (2017). Non-simultaneity in the construction of the Canal du Midi. Producing Non-Simultaneity, 3–19. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315141930-1