Because of the way the geography of Earth is set up, for hundreds of years European traders with Asia had to go around all of Africa. There needed to be a shortcut, and that shortcut became a canal dug through a narrow strip of land in Egypt.
On this day November 17th, in 1869, the Suez Canal opens up. This is a man made, artificial, canal that sits at sea level. It took 10 years to complete, and it allowed for ships to pass through without having to go around the entire African continent.
In terms of trade, the canal is huge. The majority of oil shipped from Asia to Europe passes through it. Over the years the Suez Canal has been a point of controversy, for instance when Egypt closed it off to Israel. The canal is now under international law to be open to all, during times of peace and war.