Question 1

Why did Napoleon abandon his army in Egypt and return to France?

Accepted Answer

Napoleon claimed to have abandoned his army in Egypt because his talents were needed in Europe, where France was fighting the War of the Second Coalition; however, he may have also been disavowing the Egyptian campaign which had become unsuccessful.

Question 2

What did Napoleon do in Syria?

Accepted Answer

Napoleon invaded Syria in February 1799. He captured Jaffa and laid siege to Acre, where he encountered fierce resistance from the Anglo-Ottoman defenders. Although he won the Battle of Mount Tabor, he could not take Acre and was forced to retreat back into Egypt.

Question 3

Why did Napoleon lead a campaign into Egypt?

Accepted Answer

Napoleon led a campaign into Egypt to establish a French colony there, which would allow France to threaten British trade in the Mediterranean and India. Napoleon was also motivated by a desire to follow in the footsteps of his hero Alexander the Great and carve out an empire in the Middle East and Asia.

Question 4

What happened in Napoleon's Egypt campaign?

Accepted Answer

Napoleon's Egypt campaign was initially successful, as he won the Battle of the Pyramids and captured Cairo. But French defeats at the Battle of the Nile and the Siege of Acre caused the campaign to end in failure, as Napoleon abandoned his army in Alexandria and returned to Europe.

Question 5

How did Napoleon's Egyptian campaign contribute to Egyptology?

Accepted Answer

On his Egyptian campaign, Napoleon brought along 167 savants, which included scientists and other scholars from France, to conduct research in Egypt. Among other findings, an officer from Napoleon's army rediscovered the Rosetta Stone, which allowed for the  decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Napoleon's Campaign in Egypt and Syria

Select Language

Key Languages

Other Languages