This is a survey of the main themes in the culture/history of Africa . It begins with an examination of notion of culture and civilisation in world history before concentrating on the following themes: the spread of settled societies and the growth of civilisation in Africa; Africa's interaction with Rome and Greece; Christianity in Africa; the advent of Islam in Africa; the evolution of iron technology in Africa's regional trading networks in Africa; and Africa and the international trading networks, especially the slave trade.