Which of the following was most important in causing the decline of Benin during the 17th century?

factors in the decline of Benin

·        Problems with succession

·        Changes in the military

·        Changing patterns of trade

·        The increase in power for bureaucratic organisations

when was the crisis of legitimacy

C17, lack of succesion, remote branches claimed throne, violated concept reincarnation

obas after death of Ohuan (1608)

lacked authority, had no core line of descent back to Oranmiyan

short reigned obas

in C17, faced more rebellion, Ahenkpaye actually deposed late C17

importance of tribute exacted by military decline

after c1600 (after Ehengbuda’s reign, injury led to law where oba no longer led army

importance of leading the army

in position to recieve largest tribute, after, Iyase hijacked what was meant fior the oba

why tribute of less importance

greater benefit to overall wealth of kingdom/ legitimacy increased authority and right to most welath

what did tribute also allow

palace officials to enrich themselves

variety of products

created wide trading base (esp w portugal), Beni pepper, woven cloth, palm oil

exports by the 1640s

no longer shipped out in large quantities, pepper almost disappeared from exports (Indian spice market)

singificance of cloth trade

after 1640s, more imp, but Flanders and Gujurat compeition by 1680s (Dutch East India Co planning withdrawal), threat to trade w europe

why was trade important to Benin

prosperity, supplied cowries and copper and bronze (created plaques celebrating)

impact of loss of trade

undermine Benin economic prosperity, put pressure on obas to enter slavbe trade (depopulation of working age men)

power shift with bureaucratic orgs

increased to the point of usurping oba (oba restricted to palace only came out once a year)

Ehengbuda’s laws

Uwangue (leading official) could not be killed, power of oba to decide who lived (suggests titleholders gained more power over oba), also second law forbade oba from leading military

rebellion of iyase

against Ohuan (but early on in reign)

control of senior members in benins administration

over juniors (had more far-reaching power than oba)