The primary purpose of building the Panama Canal was to provide a shortcut for maritime trade between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Prior to its construction, ships had to navigate around the southern tip of South America, a difficult and time-consuming journey. The canal dramatically reduced travel time, boosting commerce and military logistics. Begun by the French in the 1880s and completed by the United States in 1914, the canal represented a monumental engineering feat, overcoming immense challenges in geography and disease. The economic and strategic advantages of the canal transformed maritime routes and significantly impacted global trade patterns.