Historical Dictionary of Angola (PDF)

Angola is a large and populous African country, well endowed with natural resources such as petroleum and diamonds, but a country whose people have experienced long and destructive domination and civil war, resulting in tremendous political, economic, and social struggle. Now, however, Angola is at peace and making progress, and this Dictionary presents the history of this land and its people, and its potential for the future through more than 500 entries. This resource features a detailed chronology of the significant events that have taken place throughout the centuries; an extensive list of acronyms and abbreviations, in both English and Portuguese; maps; and an introductory essay that explains the richness of the land; its early history; and the current political, social, and economic conditions of its people. The more than 500 dictionary entries profile the significant persons, places, and events, as well as the political institutions and the economic and social achievements that are important to understanding Angola's history. For additional information, three appendices provide the name changes of places in Angola, the portfolios of the government, and an overview of Angola's oil production. The comprehensive bibliography concludes and complements this work with a selection of older works, and an emphasis on newer works written after 1990, as well as a useful selection of Internet sources, private sources, newspapers, and journals.