Includes bibliographical references (pages 702-718) and index.

Land of the pharaohs -- Venture into the interior -- A clash of empires -- Death on the Nile -- Roman interlude -- Saints and schisms -- The Arab conquest -- Highways of the desert -- Zanj -- A chain of crosses -- In the land of Prester John -- The Middle Passage -- Southern frontiers -- Mamluks and Ottomans -- The black guard -- The sword of truth -- A matter of faith -- The gates of Africa -- The Pasha -- Pieds noirs -- Bibles, ploughs and bullets -- Masters and servants -- The people of the heavens -- Republics on the highveld -- The missionaries' road -- The tunes of Zanzibar -- Unlocking the Congo -- The pearl of Africa -- A game of thrones -- The Khedive -- Equatoria -- Delegate of the people -- The expected one -- Diamond fever -- The fellowship of Afrikaners -- The washing of spears -- A chosen people -- The most powerful company in the world -- This magnificent cake -- Spheres of interest -- The eagle and the lion -- Carving up the Niger -- By right of conquest -- New flower -- Omdurman -- A desert fraternity -- Bula Matari -- The rubber regime -- A tale of two towns -- The road to Ophir -- Marching to Pretoria -- The extermination order -- Interregnum -- A veiled protectorate -- Elect of God -- The goal of mastery -- The turn of the tide -- Before the deluge -- Revolution on the Nile -- The nationalist urge -- Gone with the wind -- 'An honourable exit' -- The Congo bet -- In the name of apartheid -- The first dance of freedom -- Coups and dictators -- Lost decades -- Liberation wars -- In search of democracy -- Soldiers of God -- Platinum life.

Africa has been coveted for its riches ever since the era of the Pharaohs. In past centuries, it was the lure of gold, ivory, and slaves that drew fortune-seekers, merchant-adventurers, and conquerors from afar. In modern times, the focus of attention is on oil, diamonds, and other valuable minerals. Land was another prize. The Romans relied on their colonies in northern Africa for vital grain shipments to feed the population of Rome. Arab invaders followed in their wake, eventually colonizing the entire region. More recently, foreign corporations have acquired huge tracts of land to secure food supplies needed abroad, just as the Romans did. In this vast and vivid panorama of history, Martin Meredith follows the fortunes of Africa over a period of 5,000 years. With compelling narrative, he traces the rise and fall of ancient kingdoms and empires; the spread of Christianity and Islam; the enduring quest for gold and other riches; the exploits of explorers and missionaries; and the impact of European colonization. He examines, too, the fate of modern African states and concludes with a glimpse of their future.