Egyptian history: Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte documented much of what we know of ancient Egypt - but his reign only lasted three years.

Together with his army, he also brought scholars, artists and men of letters. They set up printing presses and institutes; these men were the first to study ancient Egypt, resulting in their enormous book 'Description of Egypt'. When this 20-volume tome arrived in Europe, it aroused a storm of interest.

For the next one hundred years many young adventurers followed Bonaparte's footsteps to this 'newly' discovered land, unearthing relics all but submerged by sand, dreaming of buried treasures, and indulging in wholesale brigandage, shipping back many artefacts for display in private collections.

They discovered a complex civilisation that extended some 7,000 years before the present time, and a whole pantheon of myths and Gods that had risen, fallen, then risen again before petering out around 400 years before Christ. It was a time that continues to inspire awe and wonder.

Despite this treasury of wonders Bonaparte's expedition was not to last. The British quickly discovered and destroyed Bonaparte's fleet in Alexandria harbour. A year later he slipped out from Egypt secretly. On his departure he forwarded his famous message 'don't wash, I'm coming,' to his wife.