Final answer:
Europe sought direct trade with Asia to avoid costly overland routes, leading to the construction of the Suez Canal, which connected the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quest for an all-water route by European countries was driven largely by their desire to trade directly with South and East Asia for commodities such as spices, silks, and cotton, without the heavy taxation from overland routes controlled by Arab traders. Construction of the Suez Canal, initiated by the French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps and opened in 1869, fulfilled this goal by connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, thus providing a much shorter maritime path that circumvented the need to sail around the African continent. This canal significantly boosted trade efficiencies and was strategically important as a link between Europe and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.