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Preface The idea for this encyclopedia evolved from my experiences as a high school teacher in an urban district in Connecticut. With the increasing cultural diversity in modern American classrooms, teachers and professors in the humanities and social sciences must incorporate material that reflects the diversity of their students to meet their stu- dents’ educational needs. In my school district, we were encouraged to incorporate mi- nority studies into the curriculum, especially during Black History Month. Numerous encyclopedias and reference works address African Americans’ contributions in history and literature, and some even connect African American culture to African culture. As a teacher of European and world history, I always found myself at a loss for similar materials on blacks in Europe. In fact, although the field of black European studies is gaining popularity in academia, the very idea of blacks in European history and culture is still a foreign concept to many secondary school teachers, students, and the general public. Therefore this encyclopedia is the first of its kind to introduce this topic to general audiences and schools. This encyclopedia focuses on the depictions and contributions of blacks in Euro- pean history, literature, and popular culture. A work this ambitious cannot be all things to all people or cover all conceivable topics relevant to the purpose and scope of this encyclopedia. At the very least, however, this encyclopedia will open the doors to the subject of blacks in Europe, emphasizing the scope and massiveness of their contribu- tions and role in European history and culture, for educators, students, and the general public. This encyclopedia, therefore, fills an important gap in multicultural education. Furthermore, it develops increased awareness that the black presence in Europe is not merely a contemporary phenomenon, for blacks have played a significant part in Euro- pean history and culture during ancient, medieval, and modern times. In addition to informing general readers, this encyclopedia hopes to be of use for a variety of high school and undergraduate courses. It serves as a starting point for