The Encyclopedia of African Nations and Civilizations covers the major historic civilizations and the fifty-two nations of Africa in an accessible A-to-Z format. Each nation's entry narrates the history of the region from the early development of its peoples to the political, cultural, and economic circumstances that characterize the area today. The volume includes a comprehensive list of rulers and presidents, the history and culture of its indigenous peoples, and brief biographic details on major political and cultural personalities. More in-depth entries also include information on the nation's origins, recent history, a chronology of events, and thematic events. Feature articles, maps, and chronologies throughout the text broaden the impressive scope of this volume. Entries Include: Abyssinia, Benin, Berber kingdoms, Cameroon, Dahomey, Egypt, French Cameroon, Gambia, Hausa States, Ife, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Niger, Orange Free State, Portuguese Guinea, Rhodesia, Senegal, Tanganyika, Uganda, and Zaire; Personalities Include: Muhammad Ahmad, Steve Biko, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Idi Amin Dada, F.W. DeKlerk, Festus, Hassan II, Jomo Kenyatta, Said Muhammad, Muammar al Qadafi, and Haile Selassie I; Feature articles Include: Prehistoric Africa, Bantu migrations, North African conquests, spread of Christianity, spread of Islam, medieval North Africa, European exploration, trade routes, slavery, and colonization.