Benin

2018 research

by Madison McElligott, Charlie Samson, Gabe Cardenas

In what is now southwest Nigeria
Benin controlled the trade between the inland peoples and the Europeans on the coast
Traded beads to as far away as the Mediterranean
In 1897, British sent an armed expedition and captured the Benin king, destroyed his palace, and took their valuable resources such as their sculptures and works in brass, wood, and ivory
The prosperity of Benin City and the power of its kings depended largely on long-distance trade
Supplied the Portuguese with pepper, ivory, leopard skins and people

By Josh Kahn, Spencer Farber, Jess Kaufman, Camille Rivera, Katey Polovin, Caroline Vuckovich

Extended from the Niger River delta in the east to what is now Lagos in the west
In the late 1400s, Benin set up trading routes with the Portuguese
Benin had a large casting industry but did not have enough metal to support it so they turned to the Portuguese
Rulers of the kingdom were known as "Obas", who lived very lavishly
King was the most important person in the government but chiefs governed the city and surrounding villages
- The king (~1500 CE) had a tight leash on his nations trade allowing for a royal monopoly
- He even negotiated with European nations to not allow them to take male slaves as he needed them for his military force
Benin acted as a middle man of sorts in trade, passing on goods such as cotton and stone beads
Volume of slave exports in Benin rapidly increased in the 17th century
- Europeans referred to Benin as "Slave Coast"
Many ancient artifacts brought from Benin and stored in British museums
- kingdom destroyed during slave trade --> had to be restored in post-colonial era
Major hub for trading pre-slavery era