Prof. Beatrice Nicolini Ph.D. studied International Relations and Comparative Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, U.S.A. and graduated in Political Sciences, Catholic University, Milan, Italy. She has a Ph.D. in History of Africa from Siena University, Italy. She teaches History and Institutions of Africa; Religions, Conflicts and Slavery; Indian Ocean World, and in numerous International Relations Masters. She is member of Ph.D. School Committee ‘History and Politics’ at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy. The history of the Indian Ocean, trade routes, strategic and development issues are her main research topics.