paulitician
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- Oct 7, 2011
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When the 29-year-old Napoleon Bonapartes Army of the Orient arrived on Egyptian soil, it marked the first time since 1250 that a European military force set foot in the Dar-al-Islam. Napoleon fashioned himself after other influential world leaders and state builders such as Alexander and Caesar. In that regard, Napoleon brought military objectives with him to the Orient, too. Like Alexander, he also wanted to bring progress, the rights of man, and French enlightenment, with the hopes of making Egypt an extension of France. His strategy was to fuse Frances revolutionary principles with the Koran. Of course, this was modeled after Alexanders fusion project with the Persians.
This is where and how the LInstitut dEgypte came about. Supporting the Army of the Orient were some 160 of Frances leading scientists, artists, engineers, physicians and scholars. The Institute of Egypt was established in Cairo in 1798, and the works that were accomplished both during and after the expedition are greatly revered. Particularly notable was the founding of Egyptology.
Now its all gone. Burned down and charred throughout on December 17th.
Ironically, Napoleon once wrote, True victories, the only ones that cause no regret, are those made over ignorance.
Tough sell, lEmpereur
Daniel Pipes writes of the crime:
Remarkably for a learned institution, its doors were open to the public to meander and imbibe, though few did. During my three-year residency in Cairo in the 1970s, it served as a place of refuge...
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The Institute of Egypt Set Ablaze in Cairo