Why was the Suez and panama canal built?

The Suez and Panama Canals were both built to shorten travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Before these canals were built, ships had to travel around the southern tip of South America or the southern tip of Africa, which could take months. The Suez Canal, completed in 1869, connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, allowing ships to travel between Europe and Asia without having to go around Africa. The Panama Canal, completed in 1914, connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, allowing ships to travel between the Americas without having to go around South America. These canals have greatly reduced travel time and costs for shipping between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.