LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE

Egypt was miserably governed by the Ottoman Turks. The people had no rights or freedoms and poverty and ignorance was universal. Napoleon, came to Egypt in much the same way as the United States did in Iraq two centuries later—with the assumption that bringing freedom and affluence, modern government, and a greater expectation of standard of living would find favor with most of the downtrodden inhabitants. However, although the Egyptians hated their status quo, it was culturally something they were comfortable with. It was Islamic and not Christian or secular as much of France was. Yet occupation by these foreigners was more onerous culturally than occupation by the Islamic Ottoman Turks.

Egypt was miserably governed by the Ottoman Turks. The people had no rights or freedoms and poverty and ignorance was universal. Napoleon, came to Egypt in much the same way as the United States did in Iraq two centuries later—with the assumption that bringing freedom and affluence, modern government, and a greater expectation of standard of living would find favor with most of the downtrodden inhabitants. However, although the Egyptians hated their status quo, it was culturally something they were comfortable with. It was Islamic and not Christian or secular as much of France was. Yet occupation by these foreigners was more onerous culturally than occupation by the Islamic Ottoman Turks.