French expedition to Egypt

The French expedition to Egypt (1798-1801), led by Napoleon Bonaparte, was a military and scientific mission aimed at expanding French influence and studying Egypt’s culture and history. Napoleon sought to weaken Britain’s dominance by disrupting its trade routes to India. The campaign included a military invasion, the discovery of the Rosetta Stone—which helped decode Egyptian hieroglyphs—and extensive scholarly work. Although the French conquest faced opposition and eventual withdrawal, the expedition significantly advanced European understanding of Egypt’s ancient civilization.