The Genius of Benin Military Activities
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Key Stage 3 History
History programmes of study: key stage 3 National curriculum in England
Purpose of study:
A high-quality history education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past.
Aims:
know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non-European societies; achievements and follies of mankind
Pupils should be taught about:
- ideas, political power, industry, and empire: Britain, 1745-1901:
- at least one study of a significant society or issue in world history and its interconnections with other world developments
Supporting Text:
Africa and the Atlantic Slave Trade https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/africa_caribbean/africa_trade.htm
Download full text below
Activities
Construct a Transatlantic Slave Trade Timeline. Use texts and symbols.
On a blank map of Coast of West Africa show where the slave ports were located.
Africa and the Atlantic Slave Trade --->
On a blank world map show the route of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Include the following on your map
- What ports on the coast of West Africa were the slaves transported from?
- Beginning from slave trading posts in West Africa show on your map the routes to different countries that the slaves were taken to.
Visit this BBC website: Africa and the Transatlantic Slave Trade --->
Produce a short report with the following sections:
- Beginnings
- Enslavement and racism
- West Africa before European intervention
- African enslavers
- African resistance
- The African Diaspora
- Conclusion
Research the following trading companies.
East India Company
West India Company
French Indies Company
Dutch West India Company
Swedish India Company
Royal African Company
Compose a paragraph containing the following information:
- Name of company
- When established
- Why established
- By whom
- Goods traded in
Considering historical evidence
Historical source of evidence A
But what about the ports? The point is often made that virtually every port sent a ship into slaving. In England one can come up with a list including not only the obvious ones like Liverpool, London and Bristol but also Plymouth, Exeter, Bridport, and locally Chester and Poulton. In reality, though, the half dozen or so ships that somewhere like Chester or Poulton sent is insignificant compared with the dominant involvement of Liverpool (5300 voyages), London (3100 voyages) and Bristol (2200 voyages) which between them accounted for over 90% of the British trade. And the process of domination seems to have accelerated at the end of the century with Liverpool not only outstripping its English rivals but the European competition. In the two decades preceding abolition, Liverpool was responsible for 75% of all slaving voyages across Europe.
Historical source of evidence B
The same situation is true elsewhere. Again in France we can come up with a list of nearly 20 ports which were involved with the trade at some point but there were four principal slaving ports: Nantes, Bordeaux, La Rochelle and Le Havre. Over the period, Nantes sent 45% of all the ships in the French trade the other three sending 11% of the trade each and the rest shared between the other ports. In Spain, Seville was initially the port for all Indies trade including slaving but this was transferred to Cadiz in 1720 and after 1765 other ports were allowed to participate but few apart from Barcelona were much involved in slaving voyages. In Portugal the principal participant was Lisbon. A similar pattern of specialisation emerges in the Netherlands. In the first half century of slaving a number of ports were involved with Amsterdam at the head (36%), the Zeeland ports (28%), followed by Rotterdam and ports in the Zuiderzee, Friesland and Groningen. However, in the last 75 years of the trade, the so-called years of free trade when the monopoly of the West Indies Company was lifted, the Zeeland ports of Flushing and Middleburg accounted for 78% of all Dutch voyages and only Amsterdam and Rotterdam had any significant involvement with 10% each.
Question what do we get to find out about the Transatlantic Slave Trade from these two sources about who took part and the extent of their participation?
Taken from National Museum Liverpool: TextPorts conference, April 2000 --->
Project work
Oba Esigie who reigned from 1504 to 1550 banned the sale of men slaves in the Benin Kingdom. He asserted he needed men for the Benin Army. Without able bodied men his kingdom would collapse he argued to the Portuguese.
In your opinion was he correct to aver this position?
Imagine a country without men. What would be the consequences of this? What future could that country have?
Considering what we now know about how the Transatlantic Slave Trade affected Africa Continent development compose a report on:
How Europe underdeveloped Africa.
Consider evidence 3 and evidence 4 below.
Historical evidence 3
What does evidence 3 tell you about the life of a female slave?
Historical evidence 4
What does evidence 4 tell you about the life of male slaves?
Essay question
Oba Akenzua 1 [1713 - 1735] reintroduced exports of male slaves banned by Oba Esigie 200 years earlier. This had the immediate effect of restoring Benin Empire dwindling fortunes. However in the long run it contributed to the eventual fall of the empire.
Question: To what extent do you agree or do not agree with this statement? Discuss.
Key Stage 2 [Ages 8 -11] Activities
Art Gallery
Here is a selection of helmets worn by the stylish Benin Warrior chiefs.
Produce an art gallery with title: Benin Army Helmets.
You may use any medium.
War dress material
Look at material of war dresses worn by each king and complete:
Oba Ewuare - made from hide and thick leather. Property: hard to penetrate.
Oba Ozolua - made from softer cured leather. Property: _____________
Oba Esigie made from _______________ Property: ________________
Oba Orhogbua made from ______________ Property: ______________
Expansion of the Empire
Warri Kingdom of the Benin Empire
Oba Ewuare the Great fought wars in all directions. He added to Benin Empire in all directions. He added the riverine areas to the Benin Empire. On Saturday 21st August 2021 A new King was crowned for the Warri Kingdom.
Read the full story here ----->
Project
Research and find any other West African kingdom or traditional ruler whose throne was part of the Benin Empire. Present your evidence to prove this.
Being a Catholic of the Benin Empire
Activity
Compare and contrast a Catholic Priest dress with a Benin Chief dress.
| historical_evidence_3___4.pdf |
| national_archive_file.pdf |
Coronation of Ogiame Atuwase III of Warri on Saturday 21st August 2021
Coronation of Ogiame Atuwase III of Warri on Saturday 21st August 2021
Oba Ewuare II 40th Oba of Benin
Oba Ewuare II with two Palace Chiefs his body guards.
