Benin rise

factor

military

Warrior kings

eg. Ewuare, captured 201 towns/villages

military conquest

aided in expansio, future stability (leaders as allies)

size of oba’s army

20k in a day

purpose of army

wealth to gift nobility (cermonial, marriage, death ceremonies)

expansion of wealth

means of attaining/rewarding supporters

as empire expanded

complex mechanism- tribute etc

head of the village

Odiunwere (organised agricultural production, mediated with central authority)

purpose of chalk

sent to village, power had to be accepted

tribute units in east Yorubaland

Bale-kale (obas representatives)

purpose of Bale Kale

enforced tribute, military sent in for non-compliance, financed patronage

2nd factor

government/ administrative developments

eldest son

edaiken (created by Ewuare)

succesion re-emphasised

Ozolua and Ewuakpe (1700-12), following early problems

other actions from Ewuare

strengthened town chiefs against palace factions, unified support, lessened potential of opponents- palace and town chiefs

palace and town chiefs, and 6 who appointed oba

eghavbo no’ogbe, eghavo n’ore and the uzama

Esigie’s queen mother

iyoba (spiritual backing to pwer of oba)

3 fac

geography

land

fertile- wide variety of products (Beni pepper, woven cloth, palm oil)

access to coastal ports

Gwaton, Edo 30km from coast

first European contact

Gulf of Guinea by 1470s, visited capital 1485, trading well-established by C15

result of position to a direct trading relationship

able to avoid damaging effects of slave trade (depopulation of working-age men), goods access to further wealth

hinterland

well-developed, mangrove smap/rainforest (defence)

prosperity before Europeans

from regional trade, acted as middle-trade (goods which it did not produce itself e.g. cotton/ semi-precious stone beads)

welath before military

needed geography as a strong base for further expansion