'The success of the Eric Canal spurred an area of canal building.' Help!

[Duc]

The success of the Eric Canal spurred an area of canal building.
I don't understand the meaning of the sentence above.Do ''area of canal building'' go with ""an area'' to make a phrase that is the object of the verb''spur'' or ''area of canal building'' go with the verb ''spur''?
:oops: :cry: :x
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[Jamie (K)]

There is a mistake in the sentence. Instead of an "area of canal building', it should say an "era of canal building".