… France Theatre Travel The encounter between East and West from the beginning of the nineteenth century onwards, starting with Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt (1798-1801), is considered as one of the historical events that fostered the cultural … the French ate seated at a table and used their own cutlery. They did not use other people’s cutlery nor did they eat with their hands: ʻWe also received about 100 chairs to sit on, since in this country it is considered strange for … fact of sitting on the floor amazes them. […] Each person received something in his plate which he was supposed to cut with the knife that was before him, and then to bring it to his mouth with the fork – not the hand. People here do not …