The lattice of equational classes of idempotent semigroups is completely described. It is shown that every equational class of idempotent semigroups is determined by a single equation (in addition to the associative and idempotent equations). A method is presented for finding which class a given equation determines, and when the class determined by one equation is contained in the class determined by a second equation. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)