Introduction -- A quick tour of the Sahara -- Flora and fauna -- Part 1: Landscapes. Whales in the desert -- Rock art -- Saharan urban -- Part 2: History: conquests and empires. From ancient Egypt to the Arab invasion -- Travellers, chroniclers, geographers -- Part 3: History: exploration, imperialism and independence. European forays: the African Association and Napoleon -- Further horizons: exploration and the European land grab -- War and peace and war -- The second world war -- Heaven and hell: independence and since -- Part 4: Imagination. Classical inspiration -- Poetic muse -- A brilliant palette -- Oriental delights, strange worlds and spy stories -- Silver screen Sahara -- Part 5: Encounters: indigenes and visitors. Men with a mission -- Literary travellers and tourists -- People of the Sahara.