Kingdom of Benin

Quick Facts: Who was Kingdom of Benin?

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Kingdom of Benin

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Ancient West African kingdom in modern Nigeria, known for its rich art and powerful Obas.

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Origins & Early Life

The Kingdom of Benin or Empire of Benin, also known as Great Benin, is a traditional kingdom in southern Nigeria. It has no historical relation to the modern Republic of Benin, which was known as Dahomey from the 17th century until 1975. The Kingdom of Benin's capital was Edo, now known as Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria. The Benin Kingdom was one of the oldest and most developed states in the coastal hinterland of West Africa. It grew out of the previous Edo Kingdom of Igodomigodo around the 11th century AD; it was annexed by the British Empire in 1897, but endured as a non-sovereign monarchy.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the empire reached the height of its prosperity, expanding its territory, trading with European powers, and creating a remarkable artistic legacy in cast bronze, iron, brass, carved ivory, and other materials. The presence of the sickle-cell allele in the Sahara during the Green Sahara period suggests that ancient ancestors of the Edo people may have inhabited the Saharan region in prehistoric times before migrating southward. The gradual movement of Proto-Edoid people to West Africa may have been associated with the expansion of Sahel agriculture in the African Neolithic period, following the desiccation of the Sahara in c. 3500 BCE. The state that became known as the Benin Empire developed in several phases. It was known by various names both inside and outside its borders.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

By the 1st century BC, the Benin territory was partially agricultural; it became primarily agricultural by around A.D. 500, but hunting and gathering of animals still remained important. Also by A.D. 500, the territory's inhabitants used iron. The earliest organized polity in the region that became Benin was Igodomigodo, which coalesced from existing autonomous communities in the late 1st millennium CE. The ruler was called Ogiso – the ruler of the sky. The Egiso put in place many of the cultural and social traditions that have shaped Benin.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1897: 1897 Milestone — It grew out of the previous Edo Kingdom of Igodomigodo around the 11th century AD; it was annexed by the British Empire in 1897, but endured as a non-sovereign monarchy.
2. 1975: 1975 Milestone — It has no historical relation to the modern Republic of Benin, which was known as Dahomey from the 17th century until 1975.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kingdom of Benin

True or False: “The Kingdom of Benin had a direct historical relationship with the modern Republic of Benin.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Kingdom of Benin has no historical relation to the modern Republic of Benin; the latter was known as Dahomey from the 17th century until 1975.

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