At the end of the 18th century, Alexandria seemed to be a declining city in comparison with its former glory, and the members of the expedition to Egypt described nothing but ruins and desolation.

The military campaign launched by the Directory committee in April 1798 doubled up as a scientific expedition that Bonaparte, who was heading it up, hoped would be in the same league as those embarked on by Louis-Antoine Bougainville, James Cook or Jean-François de la Pérouse.