In 1956, an international crisis over control of the Suez Canal put Britain and France into direct conflict with President Nasser of Egypt, a proud Arab nationalist determined to stand up to foreign powers meddling in Egyptian affairs. To understand the deep roots of the crisis we go right back to the creation of the canal in 1869, and the long history of British intervention in Egypt - all with the usual Epic History TV maps as well as loads of brilliant and rarely-seen archive film from the period. Part 2 explores how Britain, France and Israel cooked up a secret plan to invade Egypt, overthrow Nasser and reassert their standing as global powers. But when the international community, and in particular the United States, condemned their actions, the aggressors were forced into a humiliating climb down. The repercussions for the Middle East and global history were long-lasting and profound.