The Kingdom of Benin

The Kingdom of Benin, in what is now modern-day Nigeria, was ruled by a powerful King called an Oba. Beginning in the 900s, the Edo’s (the kingdoms people) settled in the rainforests of West Africa. By the 1400s, they had created a wealthy kingdom. In this scene students can explore what it was like to live in the Kingdom of Benin.

# Learning objectives

1: Understand where the Kingdom of Benin used to be located{.info}

2: Understand what daily life was like in Benin {.info}

3: Understand what craft workers did in Benin {.info}

# What was life like for the Obas?{.objective .objective1}

The Oba (King) is an individual who ran the village and many people worked for him. Here students can explore his house and consider why the Oba had advisors to help him rule.

# What was life like for ordinary people? {.objective .objective2}

Here students can learn about the villages and small towns including the Benin Kingdom. Students should be able to identify a range of objects which can help students make inferences about how it would have been like to live inside the Kingdom of Benin.

# What material did craft workers use? {.objective .objective3}

Here students are able to learn about the Benin Bronzes. Students can explore these items and learn of their purpose. In addition to this, students are asked to identify any of the Gods the people of the Benin Kingdom worshipped and why they believed their Oba to be a God.

# Teacher Resources

### Download Teacher Notes

[](lhttps://data.avncloud.com/activities/792435/files/The%20Kingdom+of+Benin+Teacher+Notes+1.pdf?date=1676385847&size=1272635&md5=4056ee341c29f54327ecd2b71478a069)

### Student Quiz Answers Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/792437/files/The%20Kingdom+of+Benin+Teacher+Notes+2.pdf?date=1676386009&size=802397&md5=07b6fc0bed1596043248722768150d7e)

### Download Student Quiz Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/792438/files/The%20Kingdom+of+Benin+Teacher+Notes+3.pdf?date=1676386677&size=96433&md5=9fb9072a33aac2bf17a5c296908ebd12)