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The kingdom of Benin. Benin were one of the forest states of West Africa.Its people were called the Bini, Noho spoke the Edo language.

Origin of Benin

The origin of the Benin is not clear.
Some historians believe that Benin emerged because of slave trade.
According to the tradition, the Benin migrated from the area around river Niger and settled around River Benin where it started as a small state.
Therefore the founders of the kingdom were the Bini or Edo speakers in around the 11th century.
It is said that by the 1300A.D the kingdom was already in existence.
At the first, it was ruled by kings known as Ogiso’s i.e. Ogiso was Igodo and lost Owodo.
The administration of Ogiso’s was too dictatorial and harsh which led to a rebellion and over throw of the Ogiso dynasty.
A republic administration was temporarily set up.
However, it is said that the republican administration was also harsh and un popular and was rejected.
This forced the Bini or Edo in the 15th century asks oduduwa of ile- ife to get them a king.
It is said that Oduduwa sent his grandson Oranmiyan to Benin.
But it is said that Oranimiyan found it hard to rule the Edo and discovered that the only person to rule the Edo was a prince from the Edo people.
He therefore decided to marry a daughter of one of the chiefs and bore him a son who was to call Eweka I.
He therefore decided to appoint his son Eweka I to rule his people.
Orinimiyans son was crowned Oba Eweka I hence the first Oba (king) in the Oba dynasty.
Orinimiyan then returned to Yoruba land after giving the kina its name of Benin.
Benin was located in the area with fertile soils and favorable climate
The Benin also participated in trade with North and West African coast.

factors that led to rise and expansion of benin.

Benin had a strong army which conquered Ekiti, Western Ibu etc.
Able leaders i.e. Oba Oware led to its rise.
It had a good system of administration.
It had fertile soils which favored agriculture hence its rise.
Participated in trade with the North and the West African coast.
The good climate favored settlement and economic activities, hence its rise.
The art of Bini, They were artists and sold their sculptures to different traders.
The Bini were highly united with a common language.
It was free from external aggression i.e. its neighbors were weak.
There were no succession disputes hence its rise.
They also did metal works and produced things such as spears, hoes, arrows which they sold and used for defence.
Taxes collected from the traders led to its rise.
Tributes from the conquered state hence leading to its rise
The good diplomatic relationship with the Europeans led to its rise
The kingdom had a strong army which protected and expanded the Empire.

The Political Social and Economic Organization of Benin.

The kingdom was highly centralized headed by the king called Oba.
The king was both political and spiritual i.e. had powers to offer sacrifices.
The king was assisted a council known as Uzaama in the administration.
The Uzaama could elect a new king and carried out judicial functions
The kingdom was divided into two i.e. metropolitan and provincial Benin.
The kingdom was further divided into provinces headed by governors who collected taxes.
There was also a palace chief who took care of Oba’s family and finances.
The Empire had a strong army and all men hence ready to defend the Empire.
Benin City was fortified with walls and ditches for defence purposes.
Economically, the Bini were skilled in art and craft and got a lot of wealth from its products.
They also carried out trade with the north and Europeans at the coast.
The kingdom imposed taxes on the traders who came to Benin Made the conquered states to pay tributes which increased the revenue.
Agriculture was practiced and grew crops like yams, Groundnuts etc
They also kept animals such as cattle, goats sheep etc.
They also did fishing on river and swamps to supplement food. They also did iron working ie made things like hoes, arrows they sold to other states.
Hunting was done on small scale.
Socially, they believed in the god known as Oruru and their worshipping places were decorated with art work.
The king had divine powers which made the people fear and respect him.
The art works formed their social life as they were united by their art works which made them interact.
Benin was divided into classes ie royalists, free commoners and slaves.
What was the importance of the Benin art?
It provided employment opportunities to the people.
The remains of art helped the Historians to study on the ancient kingdoms in the West Africa.
Their art showed the level of civilization that existed in West
Africa before colonialists.
The art helped in the digging of minerals.
The art was used in the decoration of royal palaces in the kingdom.
Helped in the manufacturing industry which provided a variety of goods such as pottery, weaving etc.
They were at sometimes used for amusement or breaking boredom of daily life.
They were placed at services of social and spiritual customs. They acted as tourist attraction and income generation.
They were sold or traded with the Europeans who came to the kingdom.
The art products showed Benin’s cultural pride and beauty. The art made the king politically powerful i.e. made guns and accumulated wealth hence making him strong.

King oba oware.

He was one of the greatest kings of Benin and assumed the title “Oware” meaning the troubles are over.
What were the achievements of Oba Oware for Benin kingdom?
He expanded Benin i.e. conquered ekiti, kare etc.
He increased revenue of the states by imposing taxes on conquered states.
He made the city beautiful i.e. built roads.
Promoted diplomatic relationship with foreign countries i.e.
Portugal.
He reduced powers of ambition chiefs who created confusion in the kingdom.
He organised the administration of the kingdom hence law and order
He promoted trade and encouraged traders to come to the kingdom.
He promoted unity of the Benin hence leading to prosperity.
Promoted Agriculture and encouraged people to grow enough food.
He created a strong army to defend the kingdom and expansion.
He promoted peace in the kingdom of Benin.
He promoted the art of the Benin hence leading to civilization.

Reasons for the long existence of benin.

Weak neighbours hence could not attack the kingdom.
It was surrounded by forest hence could not be attacked by the savannah states.
Got tributes from the conquered states and became strong i.e. cattle, food etc.
Traders who came to the kingdom were taxed.
Benin had acquired guns from the European traders which were used for protection.
It was located in the fertile soils which favoured agriculture to sustain her population.
It also had local industries i.e. weaving crafts, iron and bronze works which made her self-sustaining.
They also kept animals like cattle, goats which made the economy strong.
It participated in trade with the north and the coast hence got a lot of wealth.
The strong army led to her long existence and for defence.
Strong leaders who administered effectively i.e. Oba Eweka, Oba Esigie.
There were no internal conflicts or wars due to the love and respect for Obaship.
Unity existed due to the same language and culture.
The unwritten constitution of Oba made her to long exist i.e. the chiefs had no right to overthrow Oba, balanced powers of Oba, the palace and town chiefs of Oba, the palace and town chiefs.
The artworks of the Bini were of value to Europeans who ex changed it with their guns and enabled it to exist for long.
The good relationship with some European countries made her exist for long.

Factors for the decline of benin.

In its later period, there developed frequent succession disputes hence weakening the kingdom.
Too much freedom given to conquered states made them to break away.
At the peak of its rule, there was poor military organization hence making the army weak.
Benin lost the middle man’s position in trade.
The rise of Oyo kingdom affected Benin.
Civil wars also led to the decline of Benin.
The coming of the colonialists led to decline in 19th century.
Disunity later emerged due to constant fighting and led to its collapse.
The loss of revenue from the conquered states that broke away i.e. Wari.
Slavery depopulated people as many people were sold away. The abolition of slave trade also affected its revenue and led to its collapse.
Outbreak of famine due to civil wars which affected agriculture.
Decline of the Trans Saharan trade.
The death of capable leaders like Oba Oware, Oba Esigie etc. The rise of weak leaders led to its decline.
The kingdom had also become too big and made the administration difficult.

The kingdom of dahomey.

It was founded by the clan known as the Fon. This was the kingdom of one of the many small states of the Fon.

Factors for the rise / expansion of dahomey.

Dahomey had able leaders e.g. Gezo ghele etc.
Dahomey started small hence easy to administer.
It was highly centralized and had efficient system of government
It had a strong standing army for defence.and expansion.
The policy of Dahomeanisation led to its rise.
The need to break away from Oyo led to creating of a strong army to defend Oyo’s attacks.
The good geographical areas i.e. forest zone led to its rise.
Dahomey had a strong economy based on agriculture, hunting.
It participated in trade hence her rise.
Had no succession disputes hence law and order that led to her rise.
The Fon were highly united and led to her rise. Describe the political, economic and social organisation of dahomey.
Politically, Dahomey was highly centralized headed by a king.
The king was assisted by a council of ministers.
The kingdom had a secret organization responsible for preaching propaganda.
The kingdom was divided into six provinces each under governor.
Each governor and chief had a female counter -part to work with called Naye who acted as a king’s spy.
To ensure peace in the kingdom, the king removed all laws and customs of the conquered states of and replaced them with those of Dahomey ie Dahomenisation policy.
Communication between the provinces and the central government was carried out by strong body of runners known as half heads.
All the appointments i.e. political and military were done by the king.
The king named his successor from the ruling family and it was patrilineal.
The king ruled the metropolitan province of Abomey.
Farmers were taxed according to level of their agricultural production.
Agriculture was practiced in Dahomey.
They also kept animals such as cattle, sheep etc.
They also had local industries i.e. iron working, cotton spinning etc.
Dahomey also produced palm oil.
Socially, the Fon also believed in small gods.
The king was divine being who was highly respected.
Why did Dahomey survive for so long?
Dahomey was a small state and made administration easy.
Dahomey had powerful kings ie. Gezo, Ghele etc.
It had a strong army.
Had weak neighbours.
Had an efficient administrative system.
The policy of Dahomenisation led to her long existence.
It was not subjected to serious attacks until 1890’s.
European feared to engage in military contest with great
Dahomey.
Had a strong stable economy.
It took part in slave trade.
The system of succession was clear hence no succession disputes.
Fertile soils encouraged agriculture.
Tributes from the conquered states made her strong.
It had local industries hence self-sustaining.
Unity existed among the Fon hence her long existence.

Factors for the decline i collapse of dahomey.

The wars between Dahomey and Yoruba weakened the army.
Dahomey army was attacked by small pox.
Constant slave raiding by the army reduced its size.
Abolition of slave trade affected Dahomey’s economy.
The collapse-of quidah (Dahomey major port). Led to reduced revenue.
The policy of Dahomenisation was not liked by the conquered states.
Break away of the conquered states led to its decline.
The death of capable leaders eg. Ghele.
The rise of weak leaders such as king Agongolo.
Outbreak of famine due to wars as agriculture was put on a stand still.
The French invasion of Dahomey led to its decline.
Succession disputes later emerged which led to disunity.

The empire of asante.

Asante was located in the present day Ghana. The empire was founded by the Akan (Oyoko clan) under Obiri Yeboa and its capital was Kumasi.

Factors for the rise and expansion of asante.

Unity existed in the empire hence its rise.
Capable leaders eg. Obiri Yeboa, Osei Tutu, Opuku Ware etc.
It participated in trade ie the Trans-Atlantic trade.
It had a strong standing army.
Her neighbours were weak.
Had a good system of administration i.e. centralized.
There were no succession disputes in the Empire.
It participated in agriculture hence enough food.
It got tributes from the conquered states.
It also had gold areas which earned a lot of wealth.
The rise of many states of the same origin around Kumasi made it easy to unite and form an empire.
It imposed taxes on traders who came to Kumasi.
The harsh rule of the Denkyira made the Akan people create an empire to get rid of oppression.
Asante also got guns during trade which she used to defeat her * neighbours.
The Europeans activities at the coast weakened many states and gave chance to inland states like Asante to grow.
The golden stool and Odwira festival at Kumasi gave the people courage as brothers and sisters and respect to the king.
The Constitution of Asante made by Osei Tutu and his chief priest okomfo Anokye led to its rise.

The political, economic, social organisation of asante.

The empire headed by the king known as Asantehene who was the highest political figure in Asante was.
The Empire had a centralized system of administration.
The empire was divided into two i.e. metropolitan and provincial Asante.
The metropolitan Asante consisted of the original capital Kumasi and the surrounding area with a radius of 40miles and was Asantehene.
The provincial states were left under the control of their chiefs but had to respect Asantehene.
The central government of the metropolitan Asante consisted of the union Council of kings of various states known as omanhences.
Asantehene chaired the council of the omanhences which gave him greater control of the empire. .
Even if each state had a king in the metropolitan Asante they recognized Asantehene as their leaders.
Asantehene’s position at first was hereditary but later appointed.
The golden stool was highly respected as a symbol of unity in which the strength of Asante depended. It was believed to have come from heaven and fell at the feet of Osei Tutu.
The conquered states such as Denkyira paid tributes to the central government.
The conquered states were also not represented on the union council since they were left independent.
The conquered states only communicated to the king through the chief of Kumasi.
The Asantehene appointed governors to monitor activities in the conquered states.
The Asantehene had an organized army .and each state contributed to the army of the empire.
The governors supervised the collection of taxes and tributes.
The chiefs, queen and queen mother checked on the powers of Asantehene.
Economically agriculture was practiced i.e. maize, yams etc.
They participated in the triangular trade.
Imposed taxes on commodities hence source of income.
It carried out art and craft industry.
It highly produced gold which was on demand by Europeans.
The empire also got tributes from the vassal states.
They also kept animals such as goats, cattle for food mostly.
Fishing on rivers and swamps was practiced.
Hunting on small scale was done.
Black Smithing i.e. making hoes, arrows etc.
Socially the Asante practiced traditional region and later Islam introduced.
They had a strong belief in the golden stool said to have come from heaven and it was a symbol of unity.
The Odwira festival was celebrated annually and prayers were said for the entire kingdom.
Asante was divided into classes i.e. royalists, commoners and slaves.