what course did napolen take to get to egypt

Why did Napoleon take 160 scholars with him to Egypt?

This was the reason he took 160 scholars with him to Egypt. Their work would bring him glory, but the army could do that. What these scholars alone could provide was a wealth of knowledge to be taken back to France and spread from there around the word. Napoleon wanted to know more about Egypt.

Why did Napoleon Bonaparte finally accept the Egyptian project?

After having decided that the project to invade England, to which he had been assigned, was unrealistic, Bonaparte sent his conclusions to the government, who finally accepted the Egyptian project, though not without debate.

Is there a French version of Napoleon’s life in Egypt?

This version has both the orignal piece in French and the English traslation. This is a 50 minutes “ducumentary” which detailedly describes Napoleon’s Life in Egypt. It concludes his brutal battles, relationship with the local Egyptian, problems of religions and threats from Turkey.

How did Napoleon conquer Cairo?

Above:Following the landing near Alexandria and capture of the city late in May 1798, Napoleon’s army swept south where they confronted the main Egyptian Army outside Cairo. Napoleon’s superior military tactics overwhelmed the Mameluke cavalry and the battle for Cairo was over in a few hours.

What did Napoleon do in Egypt?

What was Napoleon's approach to Islam?

What were the three festivals that Napoleon celebrated?

What was Napoleon interested in?

What was the purpose of the Nile festival?

How long did the Sufis dance in Cairo?

How long did the Egyptian expedition last?

See more

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Eight Reasons Behind Napoleon’s Invasion Of Egypt

Napoleon in Cairo, by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 19th century, Princeton University Art Museum. A Long-Standing French Goal. French eyes were already looking towards Egypt.

Napoleon Explains Three Reasons for the French Invasion of Egypt

The long Britanica article about Egypt contains the following footnote. It clearly and succinctly explains France’s understanding of Egypt’s central importance to England and its most important colony — British India, from which the English had driven French trading companies.

Napoleon 's Invasion In Egypt - Free Essay Example - PapersOwl.com

A special affair has happened every day. Whether it be someone’s birth or the creation of something extraordinary. All of these events share the same date in different years. Most of them originate from different topics similar to political changes and battles that were fought. I learned a

Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign - ThoughtCo

In 1798 the French Revolutionary War in Europe reached a temporary pause, with the forces of revolutionary France and their enemies at peace. Only Britain remained at war. The French were still looking to secure their position, wished to knock out Britain out. However, despite Napoleon Bonaparte, the hero of Italy, being assigned a command to prepare for an invasion of Britain, it was clear to ...

The Campaign in Egypt - napoleon.org

The chronology for Egypt 19th May 1798-30th floréal year VI: Bonaparte sets sail for Egypt.11th June 1798-23rd prairial year VI: taking of Malta.2nd July 1798-14th messidor year VI: Bonaparte takes Alexandria. 21st July 1798-3rd thermidor year VI: victory at the Battle of the Pyramids. 24th July 1798-7th thermidor year VI: Bonaparte enters Cairo. 1st August …

How many savants did Napoleon bring to Egypt?

For, in addition to soldiers and sailors, Napoleon brought along 150 savants — scientists, engineers and scholars whose responsibility was to capture, not Egyptian soil, but Egyptian culture and history.

When did Napoleon invade Egypt?

The Napoleonic Invasion of Egypt. (Click on the images to enlarge) On July 1, 1798, Napoleon landed in Egypt with 400 ships and 54,000 men and proceeded to invade the country, as he had recently invaded Italy. But this Egyptian invasion was to be different.

When was the first volume of the description of Egypt published?

After their return to France in 1801, they continued to organize materials, and finally, in 1809, the first volumes of the Description de l'Égypte were published.

What was the second objective of Napoleon?

The second unstated objective was to remove the ambitious young Bonaparte, whose popularity following his success in the Italian Campaign of the previous year rendered him a threat in current volatile politics.

What was Napoleon's main goal in the Battle of the Pyramids?

The first was to block Britain’s trade route to India and re-establish commerce with ...

What was the purpose of the French army in Egypt?

The first was to block Britain’s trade route to India and re-establish commerce with the Levant. The second unstated objective was to remove the ambitious young Bonaparte, whose popularity following his success in the Italian Campaign of the previous year rendered him a threat in current volatile politics.#N#General Bonaparte famously addressed his troops on their arrival in Egypt with the words “From the heights of the Pyramids, forty centuries look down on us”. The reality of France’s Egyptian Campaign was less grandiose, and descriptions by surviving French Officers of Napoleon’s decision to trek his 37,000 troops across the desert rather than follow the Nile River from Alexandria, tell of appalling mismanagement, of thirst, discomfort, disease and death. Nevertheless it was in the Battle of the Pyramids (more accurately the Battle of Embabeh in the Gaza plain where the battle actually took place) that Napoleon famously routed the Mameluke cavalry by putting into practise his innovative use of the massive so-called ‘divisional square’, a tactic first deployed in Antiquity. The Mamelukes had effectively ruled Egypt since the thirteenth century and were legendary, apparently invincible, and fearless warriors. Their defeat at the hands of General Bonaparte further enhanced his reputation.#N#The Battle of the Pyramids, between French troops led by Bonaparte and 21,000 Egyptian Mameluke soldiers was a resounding victory for the French. In contrast, the French naval fleet, stationed in the Bay of Aboukir, was attacked by the newly arrived British fleet, under the command of Horatio Nelson, and was roundly defeated. Following this naval defeat, Bonaparte’s Egyptian campaign remained land-based.#N#Having installed himself as master of Egypt by force, Bonaparte then set about installing in Egypt what he viewed as the benefits of western civilisation. He established the Institut d’Egypte for French scholars, a library, a chemistry laboratory, a health service, a botanical garden, an observatory, an antiquities museum and a zoo.

What was Napoleon's victory in Egypt?

Napoleon's military defeat in Egypt yielded a victory for history. When Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798, he brought along an 'army' of scholars, whose studies of this ancient culture became the foundation of Egyptology. Jean-Léon Gérôme’s painting “Bonaparte Before the Sphinx” captures Napoleon’s instinct that the glory ...

Why did France want to conquer Egypt?

By the end of the 18th century, France wanted to conquer Egypt. At war with Britain, France sought to disrupt its enemy’s dominance of the seas and its trade routes with India; taking control of Egypt would give France a foothold from which to expand in the Mediterranean. An ambitious Corsican general, Napoleon Bonaparte was given command ...

How many soldiers were in Egypt in 1798?

Along with 35,000 soldiers, more than 160 scholars and artists traveled to Egypt in 1798. Officially known as the Commission of the Sciences and Arts of Egypt, this group would end up making a greater contribution to history than the French fighting forces. Their careful work, carried out over many years, would give birth to the field ...

Who was the leader of the French forces in Egypt?

An ambitious Corsican general, Napoleon Bonaparte was given command of the mission. Already renowned for his campaigns in Italy, Napoleon led French forces to Egypt in 1798 to fight against the local rulers. Known as the Mamluks, they controlled the North African territory, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire.

When did the French capture Alexandria?

In early July 1798, the French fleet landed near Alexandria and easily captured it. French troops advanced on Cairo and took the city on July 21, after winning the Battle of the Pyramids, also called the Battle of Embabeh. Despite these initial victories, the military mission began to flag.

Did France have enough garrisons?

France did not have enough men to establish sufficient garrisons, which limited its military presence to the capital city and certain areas of the Nile Delta. British naval forces were lurking offshore in the Mediterranean and succeeded in sinking the French fleet stationed off the coast of Egypt in August.

What did Napoleon bring to the Institute of Egypt?

Napoleon’s force had more than just troops. He had brought with him an army of civilian scientists who were to create the Institute of Egypt in Cairo, to both, learn from the east, and begin to ‘civilize’ it. For some historians, the science of Egyptology began seriously with the invasion.

How many ships did Napoleon have?

Consequently, Napoleon, a fleet and an army sailed from Toulon in May; he had over 250 transports and 13 ‘ships of the line’. After capturing Malta while on the way, 40,000 French landed in Egypt on July 1st. They captured Alexandria and marched on Cairo.

Why did Napoleon march into Syria?

The aim was to prise the Ottoman Empire apart from their alliance with Britain.

What happened to Napoleon when he left France?

Napoleon now took a decision which has damned him in the eyes of many critics: realising the political situation in France was ripe for change, both for him and against him, and believing only he could save the situation, save his position, and take command of the whole country, Napoleon left his army and returned to France in a ship which had to evade the British. He was soon to seize power in a coup d’etat.

What was Napoleon's dream?

Napoleon’s Dream. Napoleon had long harbored dreams of fighting in the Middle East and Asia, and he formulated a plan to strike back by attacking Egypt. A conquest here would secure the French hold on the Eastern Mediterranean, and to Napoleon’s mind open up a route to attack Britain in India.

Did Napoleon Bonaparte have a command to prepare for an invasion of Britain?

However, despite Napoleon Bonaparte, the hero of Italy, being assigned a command to prepare for an invasion of Britain, it was clear to all that such an adventure would never succeed: Britain’s Royal Navy was too strong to allow for a workable beachhead.

Who was the general who fought in the French army after Napoleon?

Post-Napoleon: French Defeat. General Kleber was left to manage the French army, and he signed the Convention of El Arish with the Ottomans. This should have allowed him to pull the French army back to France, but the British refused, so Kleber attacked and retook Cairo. He was assassinated a few weeks later.

What was Napoleon's supply route?

On the way to Egypt, Napoleon secured his supply route across the Mediterranean, as well as French outposts in the eastern part of that sea. The fortress City of Valletta was taken from the Knights of St John through a combination of bribery and intimidation. Malta became a strategically important French outpost.

What did Napoleon win in the Egyptians?

Against the Egyptians and Turks, Napoleon won a series of impressive victories at the Pyramids, Mount Tabor, and Aboukir.

What did Napoleon do at the Battle of the Nile?

At first, Napoleon acted as if the Battle of the Nile did not matter. He continued his attempts to turn Egypt into a French colony. As it became evident the tactical situation had changed, he turned his attention north and east, heading into Syria to fight the Turks. There he was thwarted again, this time on land.

How did Napoleon consolidate his reputation?

Napoleon consolidated his reputation through propaganda, but he escaped the physical effects far more directly. He left Egypt onboard a boat with a few of his closest companions, dodged the British Navy, and returned to France. His soldiers, having been abandoned by their heroic commander, had to make a grueling trek around the end of the Mediterranean before the survivors reached home.

Why did Napoleon invade Egypt?

Napoleon had several reasons for invading Egypt. Culturally, there was the long-standing European dream of experiencing the exotic east. This was coupled with an interest in the Enlightenment which drove a fascination with Egypt. Politically, he wanted a great success to cement his status in France and isolate enemies abroad.

What was the army that retreated from Acre?

The Army that retreated from Acre was in complete disarray. Hunger and plague were killing men in their droves. Stricken by disease, many sought an escape through opium to lessen their suffering on the way to the grave. Stragglers were cut down by the Turks. 1,200 of the sickest troops were loaded onto boats at Jaffa in the hope they might find medical care at Damietta. Some men committed suicide in front of their comrades rather than face a terrible death.

Why was the attempt to capture the city of Acre unsuccessful?

An attempt to capture the City of Acre was unsuccessful due to a combination of disease and the British. Plague swept through the French Army, and the British Navy defeated the French siege by supplying the City. Rather than escaping Egypt to find conquests elsewhere, the French were forced to retreat to Cairo.

Why did Napoleon want to travel to Egypt?

His interest in the past came from a sense of intellectual curiosity that dominated Enlightenment Europe. He wanted to know more about history and the world. This was the reason he took 160 scholars with him to Egypt.

What would happen if France controlled Egypt?

If France could control Egypt, then it could not only undermine the British economy but boost her own. Other options were also considered. Attacking British colonies could cut off some of the nation’s financial and material supplies. Invading Hanover and Hamburg could damage British economic interests in Europe.

Why did Talleyrand claim responsibility for the idea of invading Egypt?

So Talleyrand claimed responsibility for the idea of invading Egypt. It was an opportunity for him to boost his image in the name of political pragmatism. It also allowed the Directors to accept Napoleon’s scheme without acknowledging it as his idea. To achieve his aims, Talleyrand made the invasion possible.

Why did Napoleon sell him?

Napoleon sold him on the advantages of an invasion of Egypt, with the wealth and diplomatic power it would bring. It was a vision to delight a foreign minister. The Directors were suspicious of Napoleon, this young, publicity-hungry general. So Talleyrand claimed responsibility for the idea of invading Egypt.

What did the Europeans see Egypt as?

Europeans saw Egypt as exotic and yet somehow simple, a place they could and should dominate, a land which it would be fascinating for them to experience. The political crises that destabilized Egypt from the 1760s on did not disrupt this image. Napoleon knew little of the reality he would face.

What was the advantage of France in the post-revolutionary period?

It was an option already in the minds of French politicians; a part of their dreams of global influence. For post-revolutionary France, there was an extra advantage. As a colony, Egypt would not be reliant upon plantations and slave labor like so many colonies were.

Why didn't Napoleon invade Britain?

One of the reasons for not invading Britain was also an argument against invading her colonies. It was the state of the French Navy. While an invasion of Britain was being considered, Napoleon took a tour of French ports, surveying the shipping and supplies available for war at sea.

What did Napoleon do in Egypt?

Napoleon in Egypt. On conquering Egypt Just as he had with Malta, Napoleon set about introducing civic structures and generally bringing what he felt were the benefits of the 'enlightenment' to a backward country. As de facto ruler of the land he went to the mosques and called meetings of the Cairo government or Diwan – all this ...

What was Napoleon's approach to Islam?

Bonaparte’s approach to religion. Napoleon's conciliatory approach to Islam is well documented. He is known to have admired the Mohammed – he even learned off by heart several suras of the Koran.

What were the three festivals that Napoleon celebrated?

Very cunningly Napoleon, steeped in the Revolutionary tradition of fêtes, made significant appearances at three fêtes in Egypt, namely the fête of the Nile (28 August, 1798) , the fête or mawlid of the Prophet (anniversary of his birth beginning on 21 August, 1798), and the fête de la République (22 September, 1798).

What was Napoleon interested in?

Napoleon was, we know, interested in the canal in Egypt. In his school notebooks he copied a whole passage from Diodorus Siculus on the canal built by Necho. In his eleventh cahier (Masson, vol 2, p.47) Napoleon noted 'the isthmus of Suez…is only 30 leagues in length and…joins Asia and Africa'.

What was the purpose of the Nile festival?

The Nile festival was a pagan event celebrating the Nile floods which brought fertility to the plains. The canals storing the flood waters were opened and the water stored. Napoleon attended the event as spectator but also as benefactor. His appearance at the festival of the prophet was a much riskier business.

How long did the Sufis dance in Cairo?

Napoleon therefore encouraged them, providing both a place and funding. Cairo celebrated for three days –sufis danced in the streets until they fell over from exhaustion, the French soldiers had fanfares and fireworks.

How long did the Egyptian expedition last?

The Egyptian expedition lasted only three years and three weeks. But despite that brief length of time, scholars and historians agree that this period has two important effects on the future development of Egyptian culture, namely: the introduction into Egypt of the principle of equality before the law;

Bonaparte’s Approach to Religion

• Napoleon's conciliatory approach to Islam is well documented. He is known to have admired the Mohammed – he even learned off by heart several suras of the Koran. His relationship with Christianity being one of a practical statesman – religion was useful as long as it was comforting to society, but dangerous if it lead to fanaticism. A…

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The Festivals

The Suez Canal

The End Result

Bibliography