Essay Archive - Kingdom of Benin
Kingdom of Benin
Benin was an influential city-state in northwest Africa generally from
the 15th to 17th century. It was founded by the Edo or Bini people in the
13th century, and by the early 14th century a royal court was in place.
It was always ruled by a powerful king who was usually a former war leader.
The kings, however, later became a more religious figure. The kingdom
has been though to extend throughout what is presently southern Nigeria.
One of its most successful kings was Ozoula. During his reign, from about
1480 to 1504, Benin established many commercial and diplomatic r....
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