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Y209: African Kingdoms c.1400–c.1800: Four Case Studies

The Kingdom of Benin c.1500–c.1750: the obas, government, culture, trade and decline

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit group 2

Overview

Recall questions on Benin around 1500, Ewuare and Ozolua, the Portuguese, the Oba’s power and succession, ritual and tribute, the army and defences, art and ivory, the Olokun cult, trade and decline after 1700.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Who and when

What effect did firearms have on Benin's warfare?

Key term

Explain the relationship between Benin City and the empire.

Key term

Why was ivory important in Benin's material culture?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What was the position of Benin in coastal West Africa around 1500?

    Model answer

    Benin was the dominant Edo power of the forest zone, an expanding empire ruling or exacting tribute from its neighbours, and it had just begun regular trade with the Portuguese through its river port at Ughoton.

  2. 2

    Why is Oba Ewuare regarded as the founder of the Benin Empire?

    Model answer

    He rebuilt Benin City with its great walls and moats, campaigned far beyond the Edo heartland to create an empire, and reorganised government by, according to tradition, establishing hereditary succession by the eldest son and creating new orders of palace and town chiefs.

  3. 3

    What was Oba Ozolua known for?

    Model answer

    He was a warrior king whose campaigns extended Benin's power in the years around 1500, and it was in his reign that regular diplomatic and trading contact with Portugal was established.

  4. 4

    State when the Portuguese first reached Benin.

    Model answer

    Portuguese traders under João Afonso d'Aveiro arrived in the mid-1480s, and Benin sent an envoy to Lisbon soon afterwards.

  5. 5

    How did geography help Benin to prosper?

    Model answer

    It sat in fertile forest country astride the routes linking the interior to the creeks and rivers of the Niger delta, which let it tax inland trade and reach European ships through Ughoton without allowing Europeans into the capital.

  6. 6

    What effect did firearms have on Benin's warfare?

    Model answer

    Guns bought from the Portuguese gave Benin an early advantage over neighbours, and Portuguese mercenaries fought in Oba Esigie's war against Idah, but supplies were limited and the army continued to rely mainly on swords, spears and bows.

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