. The series begins with a look at the cultures of early Africa, such as art and artifacts from pyramids, caves, and tombs from Egypt and Meroe in ancient Sudan. Then it takes a look at three different African groups - the Nok, the Dogon, and the Pokat - to point out the complexity of their lifestyles. It traces the roots of the medieval gold trade - which reached from Africa to India, China, and Italy. After then, the program tracks the prospering region of West Africa, burgeoning as a consequence of its wide-ranging trade achievements. Through the fifth and sixth episodes, the series deals with Europe's colonization of Africa. It describes the troubling link between European missions in Africa and the colonialism, and traces the terrible course of Europe's colonial "passification" of Africa in grim detail. Finally, through the last two episodes the series charts Africa's struggle for independence, and looks at Africa in the aftermath of colonial rule.