By Olivia Munn, Maddy Duffy, George Clerihue, and Chris Oh

Geography

• The area is about 4,000 sq. miles

• Benin is in current day Nigeria

• Benin was near the Nile river and Atlantic Ocean

• It is located on the southwest cost of Africa.

• On the northern hemisphere

The physical characteristics of Ancient Benin

• The natural resources are cocoa, paper, wood and iron.

• The coordinates are about 7.6219 degrees north and 6.9743 degrees east

• Annual rainfall: about 17 ft

• The environment is humid

• It is mostly tropical rainforest.

• Benin traded with Dutch and Portuguese traders by sea

• They traded things like blue fabric, pepper, jasper stones, and leopard skin

• Another major trade export was ivory (elephant tusk)

• Ivory was used to make jewelry

• Opas, Benin rulers, higher artists to trade their art work

• Cotton was the only cash crop available to small-scale farmers

• Yam was the main farming crop

• The three main types of yam were white yam, water yam and red yam

• Other crops were corn, cassava, plantains, and rice

• Their eating utensils were made out of clay, spoons, plates, cups, etc.

• People living in Benin were happy, loving people.• They worked hard but still fit in time for fun festivals.• Mothers and fathers educated children from home.• All Benin families stuck together and helped others.• Festivals, singing, dancing, and living a fun life was important to

Benin people. • They were very fond of music and played instruments that include

sticks, drums, and finger pianos.• Most people lived in mud-brick houses.• Everyone living in Benin was comfortable with the location and

lifestyle.• They lived along long (unpaved) streets. • They wore colorful clothing made of cotton.

• Benin was located in modern-day Nigeria, in the tropical rainforest.• Some workers in Benin mined copper, gold, and iron. • Slaves in Benin usually worked for wealthy families.• Benin was a huge center of art.• People all over Africa came to see the beautiful art they made.• They created fun sculptures and carved colorful masks. • They traded art all around the world.• They weren’t affected by Muslim culture.• Crops:

-bean -papaya-rice -peanuts-onion -millet-cotton

• They also raised cattle, sheep, and goats.• Natural resources include peppers and wood.• They also ate fish and plants from nearby rivers.

Continued..

• By 1500 AD Benin reached its greatest size and strength

• Kings ruled Benin• Citizens did not vote• Council members represented various people in

the kingdom• Opas (Benin Leaders) sold slaves to African

traders

• Benin was not affected by Muslim culture or the teachings of Islam

• Believed in gods, goddesses, spirits, magic, and the power of witch doctors

• They were polytheistic • When people’s children, or any other family

member had a fever or injury they brought them to witch doctors

CREDITSGeography- Chris OhCulture- Olivia MunnEconomy/Trading- George ClerihueLeadership/Religion- Madelyn DuffyCover Slide- Olivia MunnConcluding Slide- Madelyn Duffy

Ancient BeninTHANKS FOR WATCHING!