> The result was a long-term economic and military decline of areas like the Middle East. The extent of which was not realized by the West until Napoleon conque

> The result was a long-term economic and military decline of areas like the Middle East. The extent of which was not realized by the West until Napoleon conquered Egypt. Can you expand on that (or recommend further reading/links/videos/books?). Especially the "the extend of which was not realized by the west"? Were people in western europe suprised when napolean conquered egypt?