Why was the construction of the Suez Canal important?

Look at a map. Draw a line of the route by sea between Europe and Asia using the Suez canal. Repeat the exercise without using the Suez Canal. Compare your measurements.

Before the construction, ships had to sail all the way down to the Cape of Good Hope and then up there all the way to India. But after the construction, ships could travel to India and other places in shorter time.

It showed that a skilled engineer can do almost anything - as long as he doesn't cheat his way through school by having other people do his homework for him. 

It brought a new dimension to European architecture that made Neo-Gothic architects reevaluate the importance of straight lines.

It was a shorter route to sail.

So that ships didn’t have to sail all the way around Africa anymore. It was a massive shortcut.

It reduced the length of time for ships tp travel from Europe to Asia and the reverse direction by several weeks AND it is much safer than going round the Cape of Good Hope which can be stormy and dangerous.

ALSO: Improved trade relations with Middle East contries - except for the bit when the British invaded Suez.That wasn't very popular.