A unique settlement in what is now present-day Nigeria, the kingdom of Benin began when the Edo people cut down trees in the West African rain forest.
The Benin people also used brass in artwork, statues, and plaques depicting gory battle scenes. As for trading, Benin found wealth due to its location near the Niger River, which allowed merchants to trade with African kingdoms in the north. On the south end of the empire was the Atlantic Ocean, which permitted ships to exchange goods such as coral beads, pepper, and leopard skins.
By the 1400s, the little settlement had developed into a mighty kingdom.The rulers of Benin, called the Oba, had an unusual taste for brass in their stunning palaces
European trade commenced during the 14th century.The Benin Empire came to an end when the British invaded to take Benin’s resources and burned the empire to the ground.
