Chapter 1
The rise of Standard Oil
Chapter 2
The black gold of Baku
Chapter 3
Sumatran jungles and British tankers
Chapter 4
The desert sands of Persia
YOUR GOAL
Master of Oil barons of the 1900s
Ch 3 · Sumatran jungles and British tankers
schopenhauer Sumatran Jungles and British Tankers
Sailing from the jungle, we're bringing that Sumatran oil home
schopenhauer Royal Dutch discovered high-quality oil in Sumatra, sparking a fierce rivalry in Southeast Asia.
schopenhauer Shell designed the first safe oil tanker permitted to pass through the strategic Suez Canal.
BETA
schopenhauer Clear oil slicks from the jungle to discover how 1900s barons built their empires.
Fun Fact
Shell's name: The Shell oil company still names its ocean tankers after different species of sea shells, honoring the founder's original antique shell business.
Glossary
tanker (noun)
A cargo ship designed to carry liquid or gas in bulk. In 1892, Marcus Samuel launched the Murex, a bulk vessel designed to safely traverse the Suez Canal.
A cargo ship designed to carry liquid or gas in bulk. In 1892, Marcus Samuel launched the Murex, a bulk vessel designed to safely traverse the Suez Canal.
Quiz
In which Southeast Asian island did Royal Dutch make its first major oil discovery in 1885?
Quiz
Why was the Suez Canal initially closed to bulk oil tankers before Shell designed safer ships?
Quiz
What decorative item did Marcus Samuel's family import before he founded the Shell oil company?
Quiz
What was the name of the first Shell oil tanker allowed to pass through the Suez Canal in 1892?
Quiz
How did the Suez Canal route affect the transit time of Shell's oil to Asian markets?
Quiz
Who was the tobacco planter who first discovered Sumatran oil, leading to the creation of Royal Dutch?
Quiz
Who was the energetic Dutch leader who negotiated the merger of Royal Dutch and Shell?