The debut title in the acclaimed From African Beginnings series explores the complex and fascinating history of Africa's most ancient-;and advanced-;civilizations. Coretta Scott King Award winner James Haskins and Kathleen Benson take readers back in time to visit the kingdoms of Kush, whose black pharaohs ruled Egypt for nearly a century; Ghana, where between A.D. 450 and 1230 more gold was traded than anywhere else in the world; and many others. Lush illustrations by Coretta Scott King Honor artist Floyd Cooper evoke the richly layered heritage of the African continent and its people and how they made a powerful impact on world history. Look for the companion books, Bound for America and Building a new Land, in your local library.