NAME:………………………………..CLASS:…………………………….

DEEPER LIFE HIGH SCHOOL

SECOND TERM: E-LEARNING NOTES
JSS1 (BASIC 7)
SUBJECT: HISTORY
SCHEME OF WORK
WEEK TOPIC
1 Historical Sites in Nigeria: (a) Meaning of Historical sites (b) Major Historical

sites in Nigeria: Nok, Ile-Ife, Benin, and Igbo-Ukwu (c) Nok Culture: (i)

Meaning (ii) Artefacts

2 Nok Culture: (iii) People in the Nok culture (iv) Occupational Activities (v)

Significance/Importance of Nok culture in Nigeria History.

3 Historical Sites in Nigeria: Ile-Ife (i) location of Ile-Ife on the map of Nigeria

(ii) The Ife culture and tradition

4 Historical Sites in Nigeria: Ife (iii) Significance/Importance of Ife culture.

5 Historical Sites in Nigeria: Benin (i) Location of Benin in Nigeria Map (ii)

The Edo/Benin culture and history (iii) Significance of Edo (Benin) culture in

Nigerian history

6 Historical Sites in Nigeria: Significance of Edo (Benin) in Nigerian History.

7 MID-TERM

8 Historical Sites in Nigeria: Igbo-Ukwu (i) Location of Igbo-Ukwu in the map

of Nigeria (ii) Igbo-Ukwu culture

9 Historical Sites in Nigeria: Igbo-Ukwu (i) Significance of Igbo-Ukwu culture

10 Revision
 11-12 Examination

WEEK ONE

Content: 1. Meaning of Historical sites

2. Major Historical Sites in Nigeria

3. Nok Culture

Sub-Topic 1: Meaning of Historical sites

Historical site is an official location where pieces of political, military, cultural or social history

have been preserved due to their heritage value. Historic sites are usually protected by law and

many have been recognised with the official national historic site status. Such sites are now

centres of attraction for tourist around the world. Inorders words, Historical site is an official

location preserved due to their heritage value.

Importance of Historical Sites

1. Historical site serves as sources of historical knowledge

2. Historical sites make man to have the desire to ask about the past, so as to know the

origin of a people, events and cultures.

3. They help us to compare civilizations and technologies between generations and among

people.

4. They make the study of history very practical, easy and enjoyable.

5. They bring about development in the areas where they are located or situated.
Major Historical Sites in Nigeria

Historical sites are located in different parts of Nigeria. They include the following:

i. Nok Culture

ii. Ile-Ife Culture

iii. Benin Culture

iv. Igbo-Ukwu Culture

NOK Culture

The term ‘Nok’ is derived from the Nok village in Ham tribe, where the first terracotta artefacts,

was excavated in 1928 by Colonel John Dent-Young. It is presently located in Kwoi town the

headquarters of Jaba Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna, in Kaduna state.

Archaeological research revealed that Nok culture flourished in North Central Nigeria from

around 1000 BC to 500 AD.

ARTEFACTS OF NOK PEOPLE

1. Terracotta Figurines of Animals: Terracotta works that resemble animals like monkey,

horse, donkey etc constitute a major part of the artefacts.

2. Stylised Human Being Head and Feet: Human heads of different styles constitute a single

most important groups of artefacts among what had been excavated so far. Human heads

with padded nose and ear plugs with different hairstyles are common among the artefacts.

3. Pottery: another group of artefacts depicts different household apparatuses and utensils

like pots.

4. Farming Tools: Another group of artefacts are the ones that represent the different

farming tools in use.

 5. Hunting Tools: Hunting tools range from those made using stones to those made using

iron like spear, etc.

EVALUATION
1. Define the term Historical site.
2. State five benefits or significance of Historical site.
3. List four artifact of the NOK Culture and explain any two.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Read about Ife culture.
Weekend Evaluation Questions (Objective Questions)

WEEK 2

Content: People in the Nok culture

Occupational Activities
Significance/Importance of Nok culture in Nigeria History.

PEOPLE IN THE NOK CULTURE

There are two important places where the indigenous people living in those places still retain

some culture of the Nok people up till date. First, the earliest settlers of the land that we know as

Jos today are Nok people. These people were skilled artisans particularly in smelting iron to

create Artifacts as far back as the 500 BC. It is very much likely that these early settlers migrated

from Kwoi in Kaduna South.

Secondly, is the fact that is believed that the Nok culture was created by the Ham people who

reside in Kwoi-the headquarter of Jaba Local Government Area in Kaduna State of Nigeria. The

language spoken by these people is called Hyam language.

There is a connection between over forty (40) different languages spoken in North Central

Nigeria (i.e. Plateau, Benue, Abuja, Niger, Kogi, Kaduna State) and the Hyam language.
Occupational Activities
i. Farming of crops: Crops such as Pearl millet and cowpeas are some of the crops

found in some of the Nok culture sites.

ii. Hunting: Many of the artifacts and figurines discovered in the Nok cultures sites were

head of different animals.

iii. Sculpture: The terracotta heads made from burnt clay and woods tells us that the

people of the area were sculptors’

iv. Iron smelting: They were also involved in iron smelting

SIGNIFICANCE OF NOK CULTURE

i. The Nok culture reveals one of the most ancient iron age cultures that existed in

Benue-Plateau of Nigeria.

ii. Nok represent creativity and technology in iron age.

iii. Nok culture artefacts are the oldest objects dated between 2,000-2,500 years ago in

West Africa.

iv. Nok culture demonstrates early agricultural practices, iron technology and fabrication

in the River Benue axis of Nigeria

v. Nok culture artefacts shows a rapid rate of transition from stone age to iron age

without an intermediary copper age as in other ancient culture.

vi. The level of complexity of their terracotta works shows that Africans are not mentally

inferior and that they have a mental ability to provide solutions to their problems if

the conducive environment is provided.

Characteristics of Nok culture

 i. Most of the Nok artefacts are figurines of animals and human beings.

ii. Nok culture include iron tools, stone axe and ornaments

iii. Nok arts have cylindrical heads, pierced eyes, nose, mouth and ears

iv. Nok civilization flourished at Jemaa between 900 BC and 200 BC

v. The terracotta figurines of Nok are hollow, coil-built and nearly life-sized human

heads and bodies.

EVALUATION
1. Write brief note on the people of the Nok culture.
2. State five significance of Nok culture
3. Mention four characteristics of Nok Culture
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Read about Ile-Ife culture.
Weekend Evaluation Questions (Objective Questions)

WEEK THREE

Content: Location of Ile-Ife on the map of Nigeria

The Ife culture and tradition

(i) Location of Ile-Ife on the Map of Nigeria

Map of Nigeria: Showing Ile-Ife

Ile-Ife is situated in the Southern forest of Nigeria. It is a town that has been in existed for nearly

1,500 years from between 7th and 10th centuries.

The Ife Culture And Tradition

The word ‘Ife’ means expansion or dispersion. Ile-Ife therefore means a land of

dispersion where other Yoruba towns originated. Ile-Ife is regarded as the spiritual headquarters

of the Yoruba race and the ‘Oni’ as the Chief priest of Yoruba race. Ife was founded by

Oduduwa, the progenitor of all Yoruba people. Most Yoruba towns and crowns heads traced

their origin from both Oduduwa and Ife. Ife is the cradle of the Yoruba race. The seven sons of

Oduduwa are: Orangun of Oke-Ila, Olowu of Owu, Alaketu of Ketu, Onishabe of Sabe, Onipopo

of Popo, Owa Obokun of Ijesaland and Oranmiyan of Oyo. In addition, Oduduwa blessed, crown

and despatched these children to different parts of Yorubaland to establish their settlement and

become kings.

OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITIES
 i. The people of Ife were great hunters. They took advantage of their environment

which favoured hunting.

ii. They were great farmers who cultivated crops like yams, cassava and grains etc

iii. They were bead-makers, which they traded with their neighbours. Their beads were

found in places as far as Ghana and Mali, etc.

iv. They were involve in iron smelting, forging of various tools and weapons

v. The people of the kingdom of Ile-Ife were involved in textile productions

vi. They were great sculptors in terracotta and bronze using the lost-wax-technique.

EVALUATION
1. Describe Ife culture and Tradition.
2. With the use of your dictionary define the following words: terracotta, sculpture,
artifacts, archaeology, .
3. Draw the map of Nigerian indicating both the Nok and Ile-Ife culture.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Read about the significance of Ife culture.
Weekend Evaluation Questions (Objective Questions)

WEEK FOUR

Significance/Importance of Ife culture

1. The presence of Ife artefacts in museums within and outside Nigeria help to give the

country a good image.

2. It provides symbols which are used by private and public, e.g. Odua Investment

Company Limited.

3. Their ability to manufacture products that were demanded in many other places shows

that Nigerians are not inferior to people in other countries.

4. Their sufficiency in food production shows that Nigerians can feed themselves
 5. The institution of a system of government and succession that was largely successful

shows that we can develop our own system of governance that is suitable for our

environment.

Characteristics of Ife Art

i. Ife art are Naturalistic (real) in nature

ii. Ife arts have beaded necks

iii. Ife human heads were crowns or caps

iv. They describe the occupation of the people e.g. weaving

v. Ife artefacts and Nok share a high degree of resemblance

EVALUATION
1. Identify five significances of Ife culture.
2. State five characteristics of Ife culture.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Read about Benin culture.
Weekend Evaluation Questions (Objective Questions)

WEEK FIVE

Historical Sites in Nigeria: Benin

Content: Location of Benin in Nigeria Map

The Edo/Benin culture and history
Significance of Edo (Benin) culture in Nigerian history

(i) Location of Benin in Nigeria Map

Benin is located in the modern-day South-South region of Nigeria in Edo state. The ancient city

of Benin Kingdom is about 320 kilometres East to Lagos.

The Edo/Benin culture and history

The name ‘Benin’ was given to the administrative centre of the ancient kingdom by

Portuguese in the 15th century during the reign of Oba Ewuare the Great (1440-1473). It was

derived from the word ‘Bini’ or ‘ubini’ which was an adulterated version of Yoruba term

‘Ubinu’. The tradition of ancient kingdom of Benin reveals that Benin kingdom was established

by the settlement of different people who allows and subjects themselves to the rule of Ogiso

(ruler of the sky) between 8th century and 11th century (900 AD-1170 AD).

Benin city is ruled by the Oba of Benin and it is a major trading centre (City) in southern

Nigeria. Benin city is also the religious and political capital (stronghold) of the Edo people. The

Oba Benin called ‘Omo N’oba is the head of the Eweka dynasty which is probably the oldest

dynasty or monarchy in the world’.

The People of Benin

The indigenous people of Benin speak Edo language while other speak Edoid language.

The people of Benin are called Edo or Bini. Edo people are rich in dressing. They can easily be

identified by their use of beads, bangles, and anklets. Bini are strong people who are never

scared of goings to war. They lived in a war city and that explain why it was difficult for enemies

to attack them.

Benin people together with the city where they live is called Edo. The Edo speaking

ethnic groups are made up of the Esan, the Afemai and other community who founded the

ancient Benin kingdom.

Occupational Activities Of Benin

The ancient people of Benin were involved in several feats of human endeavour such as listed

below:

i. Bronze casting: This set of craft men were highest ranking craft guild within the

group of craft men called Iwedo society. Benin bronze casters employed the lost-wax

technique in which a particular wax model is made over a clay core.

ii. Blacksmith: This set of craftsmen were the second in the hierarchy of Benin

craftsmen. They were involved in the making of various tools and weapons according

to the need of the kingdom at a particular time.

iii. Carving: This is the beauty duty of the ‘Igbesanwan’ craftmen. They used wood and

ivory to carry out their work, using different tools for cutting, shaping, smoothing and

painting.
 iv. Farming: The Kingdom boasted of hardworking farmers who took advantage of the

fertile soil to cultivate different types of crops which were sufficient for domestic

consumption and export to other places.

EVALUATION
1. Write short note on Benin tradition of origin.
2. List five and explain three occupational activities in Benin culture.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Read about significance of Benin culture.
Weekend Evaluation Questions (Objective Questions)

WEEK SIX

Significance of Edo (Benin) in Nigerian History

Benin culture is significant in Nigerian culture because of many reasons. Some of the main

significance of Benin Culture are highlighted below:

i. The ability of Benin Empire to govern its expanded territories that extended beyond

Lagos to modern day Ghana, without taking over the daily of the affairs of conquered

territories, shows that federalism is not new in Nigeria.

ii. Its ability to exhibit advance craft work without the input of western countries shows

that Nigeria can take care of its technological needs at its own pace without foreign

influence.

iii. Its ability to meet its domestic food needs shows that self-sufficiency in food

production is possible, if we take the necessary steps.

iv. The description of Benin by Europeans as a city that was comparable with European

city like Amsterdam, shows that without foreign intervention, Nigeria wouldn’t have

been a third world country as it is today.

 v. The accommodation of non-natives, even at the royal city shows that Nigerians love

one another and can live together in people.

Characteristics of Benin Art

i. Benin art are highly decorative with coral beads

ii. Benin art and culture is the only art and culture that has Ivory.

iii. Benin art and sculptures are mostly royal figures (court arts) e.g. Oba, chiefs,

warriors, etc.

iv. They have beaded necks with marks of royalty in their female head styles.

v. Some of their art works reveal the invasion of British soldiers

vi. Benin art was dated to be around 14th-15th centuries.

EVALUATION
1. Identify five significances of Benin culture.
3. State five characteristics of Benin culture.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Read about Igbo-Ukwu culture.
Weekend Evaluation Questions (Objective Questions)

WEEK EIGHT

Content: Location of Igbo-Ukwu in the map of Nigeria

Igbo-Ukwu culture

(i) Location of Igbo-Ukwu in the map of Nigeria

Location of Igbo-Ukwu

Igbo-Ukwu town is located in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra state. There

are seven villages that make up Igbo-Ukwu town. These villages are: Ngo, Akukwa, Umudege,

Ezihu, Ezigbo, and Etiti. There are three important archaeological sites in Igbo-Ukwu. These

sites are Igbo Isaiah, Igbo Richard and Igbo Jonah.

The first site was discovered in 1939 by Mr Isaiah Anozie when he was digging a toilet

pit in his house. The other two sites were discovered in 1959 by Archaeologist Thurstan Shaw

when Nigerian government granted his team permission to carry out formal evacuation of the

area.

Igbo-Ukwu Culture:-

The artefacts discovered in Igbo-Ukwu are the oldest bronze artefacts discovered in the

West African sub-region. The implication of this is that Igbo-Ukwu culture is most likely the
first major iron-age civilization that took place in West Africa long before the Ife and Benin

civilization.

The over 700 high Artifacts and over 165,000 glass, ivory stone beads and pottery

evacuated in Igbo-Ukwu further attested to the early civilization culture of the Igbo people in

Igbo-Ukwu community.

The People of Igbo-Ukwu Culture:-

The people of Igbo-Ukwu culture according to oral tradition are the lost tribe of Israel

who migrated through the River Niger to settle at their present location. Another tradition

believes that they originated from Benin. Others believe that they do not have any ancestral link

with other people. Those who have this view said that they have been occupying their present

location right from the creation of the world.

Occupational Activities:-

Archaeological excavations have given insight into the diverse occupational activities the

Nri people who were in charge of Igbo-Ukwu civilization were engaged in:

i. Bronze casting: The Nri-Igbo people were great bronze casters.

ii. Trading: Igbo-Ukwu were great traders. Some artfacts like manila gives insight into

the complex trading system that existed then.

iii. Farming: Igbo-Ukwu people were great farmers because abundant food is a major

factor that makes a group of people to come together and venture into other activities

like Bronze casting.

iv. Hunting: The fact that wild animals like leopard, elephant etc feature prominently in

their artworks show that Igbo-Ukwu were also great hunters

 v. Priest: In view of the fact that Igbo-Ukwu was a theocratic state, such civilization can

only be sustained by a complex religious rituals and sacrifices which could not be

carried out by Eze Nri alone.

EVALUATION
1. Describe Igbo-Ukwu culture.
2. Explain five (5) occupational activities in Igbo-Ukwu.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Read about significance of Igbo-Ukwu culture.
Weekend Evaluation Questions (Objective Questions)

WEEK NINE

(i) Significance of Igbo-Ukwu culture

i. The survival of the Nri dynasty for a long time under a ceremonial Eze Nri shows that Nigerian

can be law-abiding if the right atmosphere is available.

ii. They were sufficient in food production with crude implementation compared to what is

available today.

iii. Without a military power, the Eze-Nri was obeyed throughout the land; this shows that good

leadership will definitely command the respect of majority of Nigerians.

iv. The uniqueness of their bronze works show that we can adapt foreign technology to suit our

local needs.

Characteristics of Igbo-Ukwu

i. Igbo-Ukwu art and sculptures were made from bronzes, beads and terracotta

ii. Igbo-Ukwu objects were discovered in ancient burial chambers, shrines and storage

areas.
 iii. Igbo-Ukwu objects were made of sophisticated bronze casting techniques

iv. Igbo-Ukwu artefacts were dated around 1,200 (800 AD)

v. Most of the artefacts were household utensils e.g. bowl, flat plate, etc.

EVALUATION
1. Identify five significances of Igbo-Ukwu culture.
2. State five characteristics of Igbo-Ukwu culture.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Read in preparation for second term exams.
Weekend Evaluation Questions (Objective Questions)

COVID-19 History Assignment

1. The language spoken by the people in the Nok Culture is called ____________
(Hyam)
2. The people of Ife were great sculptors in terracotta and bronze using the______
(lost-wax-technique).
3. The people of Benin lived in a _____ and that explain why it was difficult for enemies to
attack them (war city)
4. The location of Igbo-Ukwu two other sites was discovered in 1959 by Archaeologist ___
(Thurstan Shaw)
5. What is the Name of your village, LGA and State

2nd ASSIGNMENT: COVID 19

1. Historical site is an official location preserved due to their _________ value. (Heritage)
2. The____ terracotta artefacts, was excavated in 1928 by Colonel John Dent-Young. (First)
3. ________ is a town that has been in existed for nearly 1,500 years from between 7 th and
10th centuries. (Ife)
4. The Benin Kingdom boasted of hardworking farmers who took advantage of the _____to
cultivate different types of crops which were sufficient for domestic consumption and
export to other places. (fertile soil).
5. The fact that ______ like leopard, elephant etc feature prominently in their artworks show
that Igbo-Ukwu were also great hunter. (wild animals).
3rd ASSIGNMENT: COVID-19
With the use of your E-Note fill-in the blank spaces.
1. ____________ are now centres of attraction for tourist around the world (Historical sites)
2. _____ range from those made using stones to those made using iron like spear, etc
(Hunting tools)
3. The seven sons of Oduduwa are_____ (Orangun of Oke-Ila, Olowu of Owu, Alaketu of
Ketu, Onishabe of Sabe, Onipopo of Popo, Owa Obokun of Ijesaland and Oranmiyan of
Oyo)
4. _________ set of craftsmen were the second in the hierarchy of Benin. (Blacksmith)
5. Without a military power, ________ was obeyed throughout the land; this shows that
good leadership will definitely command the respect of majority of Nigerians.
(the Eze-Nri)