Benin and Europe
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how contact with Europeans led to the Benin Bronzes being looted.
Key learning points
- In the 1500s CE Portugese merchants began to trade goods like guns with Benin in exchange for enslaved people.
- The Dutch, French and English entered this trade in the 1600s CE, making Benin rich and powerful.
- However, by the 1800s CE, the power of Benin had weakened, and the British wanted to control trade in the region.
- In 1897 they invaded the kingdom of Benin, burning Benin City to the ground and making it part of British Nigeria.
- During the invasion thousands of pieces of Edo artwork, including some of those in the British Museum, were looted.
Keywords
Enslaved - when a person is enslaved it means that they are forced to be a slave
Transatlantic - transatlantic means crossing the Atlantic Ocean
British Nigeria - British Nigeria refers to the time when Nigeria was ruled by the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century until 1960 when they achieved independence
Loot - to loot means to steal items from a place during a war but and can also mean the stolen items
Common misconception
The Kingdom of Benin's trade with Europe solely revolved around the transatlantic slave trade.
While the Kingdom of Benin did participate in the slave trade to some extent, it also engaged in other forms of trade, including the exchange of goods such as ivory, pepper, cloth, and brassware.
Teacher tip
Explore what the Declaration of Human Rights says about slavery - there are some excellent books specifically written for children on this topic.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Edo people believed that Osun was the god of magic and...
Q2.A __________ is a god, goddess or supernatural being that some people worship and believe in.
Q3.The Museum currently holds a brass statue of Osun's head.
Q4.The four on top of the statue’s head represent Osun’s protection and the ability the Oba has to make prophecies.
Q5.The coming out of the nostrils symbolise Osun's warriors and the Oba's magical ability to defeat and destroy his enemies.
Q6.The thunder-stones on the head of the British Museum's Osun statue represent the Oba's power to bring , like lightning.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The earliest Europeans to trade directly with the Kingdom of Benin were the...
Q2.The Portuguese often paid for goods, including enslaved people, using...
Q3.The transatlantic slave trade transported enslaved people from West Africa to...
Q4.By the 1800s, the power of the Kingdom of Benin had weakened because...
Q5.In 1897, the British overthrew the Oba and the kingdom became part of British...
Q6.Roughly how many pieces of Edo artwork were sent back to Britain during the British Expedition?
To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: Benin and Europe, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: Benin and Europe, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the Benin: Why have people argued about the Benin Bronzes? unit, dive into the full primary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.