The expansion of global capitalism in the decades around the turn of twentieth century included growing investment in all kinds of projects and enterprises that required technical expertise. Railways were built crossing the territories of several countries, canals opened up new routes for ships by separating isthmuses and continents, irrigation systems enabled agricultural production on previously barren soil. The companies that carried out these works were often linked to particular “national interests”, but, at the same time, joint ventures abounded and the staff employed to carry out the project was often a multi-ethnic and multinational one. In this world, engineers carved out for themselves an expanding field of professional opportunities: as independent professionals offering their services, as private and public employees and as business owners and partners.
