Natural Suez Canal

[Straha]

The geological process that made the Gulf of Suez extended further to
the north. All of the OTL Canal Zone is submerged and is an easily
navigable natural sea strait. What does that change? I cansee:-

In times BC, Egypt invades Asia less often.

7th century AD: Islam at its arising needs ships to get into Africa.
Perhaps no Islam in Africa. Egypt stays Christian and can support the
Crusader states.

[NapoleonXIV]

The route from India/China to Europe is all water. The Middle East becomes a way station rather than the crossroads of the world. Greece and Italy takes its place as the main entrepot to Europe. The Silk Road land route never develops or is largely overshadowed. Europe/India/China are in much greater communication with each other throughout their histories.

[Straha]

all very true and less of a demand for trade with the americas...

[DominusNovus]

Not less demand for american trade, just less demand to sail west. BTW, should geographical WIs, which seem perfectly possible, be in the ASB fourm? What's Ian's opinion on this?

[Straha]

The route from India/China to Europe is all water. The Middle East becomes a way station rather than the crossroads of the world. Greece and Italy takes its place as the main entrepot to Europe. The Silk Road land route never develops or is largely overshadowed. Europe/India/China are in much greater communication with each other throughout their histories.
Perhaps all 4 sections of the world(mideast/india/china/islam) are more interlinked so advance at the same pace? A Chinese/indian/islamic enlightenment at the same time as europe's?

[Max Sinister]

If the Suez canal is there in prehistoric times already, pretty much everything could be different. After all, mankind had to leave Africa somewhen in the first place. (They could do, of course, if during the Ice Age the canal turns into a landbridge, but even then everything will be different.)

If you want China and Islam and everything, let the ASBs make the canal in, let's say, 1000 AD.

And about enlightenment everywhere: The problem in the Islamic world was, that the Quran forbids depicting humans. That might hamper some areas of science. And Islam is more monolithic than Christianity, leaving less room for doubt and less need felt for reforms. (Besides the fact that those who want to quit being Muslim might be put to death.)
The problem in China: Equilibrium was very important for them; that's why they won't feel the need for reforms too. And except for the Mongols (and I don't know a way how to stop them anyway), there was no threat around they would've to defend against. That's why they don't need enlightenment that much either.
India? No idea...