Starter quiz
- True or false? The Edo were the indigenous inhabitants of the Kingdom of Benin.
- True ✓
- False
- Where was Benin City located?
- on a plain ✓
- by the coast
- on a mountain
-
- Complete the sentence. Surrounding Benin City were huge, strong ______ to protect the city from threats and invasion.
- 'walls' ✓
- Which of the following was not a feature of Benin City?
- high walls
- suburbs
- street lamps
- round houses ✓
-
- Who would have lived and worked inside the city walls?
- tradesmen ✓
- farmers
- craftsmen ✓
- artisans ✓
-
- Approximately how many villages made up the suburbs, outside of the city walls?
- '500' ✓
Exit quiz
- When did the Kingdom of Benin begin?
- 10th Century
- 11th Century ✓
- 12th Century
- 13th Century
-
- What was the name given to the rulers of the Edo people living in the Kingdom of Benin?
- Pharaohs
- Emperors
- Obas ✓
- Sultans
-
- What were the few female rulers who held significant influence and power known as?
- Oba's Advisors
- Queen Mothers ✓
- Chief Matrons
- Ladies in Waiting
-
- Which statements accurately explain why Oba Ewuare was considered to be a great leader?
- He expanded the kingdom’s territory. ✓
- He allowed his mother to rule in his place.
- He fortified Benin City. ✓
- He forged friendships between countries and kingdoms. ✓
-
- Complete the sentence. The Oba was regarded as ______, as it was thought that he had a connection to the gods.
- 'divine' ✓
- What were some of the important activities that the Obas would do in their palace?
- meet with their officials ✓
- oversee trading goods
- lead religious ceremonies ✓
- study and write manuscripts
-
Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The Kingdom of Benin began in the 1000s CE and reached its peak in the 1400s CE under the rule of Oba Ewuare.
- The Obas were the rulers of Benin, and the people of Benin believed that they were divine and showed them great respect.
- Anyone approaching the Oba did so on their knees and were not allowed to look at him without permission.
- The Oba lived in a palace where they would meet with their officials and lead religious ceremonies.
- The British Museum holds many brass wall plaques showing Obas with their attendants conducting these rituals.
Common misconception
All Obas of Benin were male.
While historically most Obas were, indeed, male, there were exceptions, and a few female rulers, known as "Queen Mothers," held significant influence and power. The Queen Mothers often acted as regents for young kings or played advisory roles.
Keywords
Oba - the Oba was the ruler of the Edo people living in the Kingdom of Benin
Divine - to be divine is to be a god or like a god
Plaques - a plaque is a flat piece of metal, stone or wood with writing or images on it that is fixed to a wall or surface
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