Kingdom of Benin UKS2
Key Events Timeline
Nigeria
AD 400 The Yoruba people start using iron tools which AD 1 AD 2000
enable them to clear the forest land effectively
Kingdom of Benin
for the first time. Villages developed and
chiefs emerged. Anglo-Saxon
Britain • Benin City
AD 600 The area becomes the Ife Kingdom, one of the
earliest kingdoms in the West African Rainforest. Religion
AD 900 The Kingdom of Benin begins to develop and The people of Edo’s beliefs were centred
boundaries are established around the region around a creator god named Osanobua and
called Igodomigodo in what is now Nigeria. his many children.
AD 1091 The Edo people were ruled by the Ogiso, which People believed that, after death, Osanobua would
means ‘kings of the sky.’ decide their fate. They would either be reincarnated
AD 1100 The last Ogiso of Igodomigodo, Owodo, dies and as another person or would join the spirit world.
there is nobody to rule. Spirits would live in villages together, watching the
behaviour of their families and punishing bad behaviour.
AD 1180 Eweka becomes the new ruler and changes the
name Igodomigodo to Edo. He calls himself Religion was particularly important to the The people of Edo were
the Oba. people of the Kingdom of Benin. Ceremonies animists. Leopards,
were led by an ohen and were intended to crocodiles and
AD 1300- The ‘golden age’ of Edo. It has a large, powerful
make the Oba seem powerful and great, as well snakes were among
1700 army and skilled craftspeople.
as to worship the gods. There were celebrations the animals
AD 1489 It was only when Portugtuese made contact held across the year that linked to the season, associated
with the Kingdom of Benin that the name ‘Benin’ including harvest. The people of the Kingdom of with the gods.
began to be used. This name is now widely used Benin were all thoroughly involved and provided
to describe the entire civilisation from AD900. food and handmade costumes for the celebrations.
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Kingdom of Benin UKS2
Key Vocabulary Brass Heads
Ogiso The title used by the early rulers of The people of Edo believed that the head was the most
Igodomigodo. It means ‘kings of the important part of a person, where the intelligence was found.
sky’. It is thought that there were When an important person died, artists would make a head
around 31 Ogiso rulers. of that person. Obas’ heads, and those of gods or goddesses,
were made from brass. People believed that the person’s spirit
Oba The title used by Eweka and
could be contacted through the brass head. Artists made their
subsequent rulers. Eweka was from
work only for the Oba and he rewarded them with gifts.
the Yoruba people and Oba is the
Yoruba word for ‘king’. Artefacts from the Kingdom of Benin
Edo The name given to the Kingdom of Masks were made for use in ritual
Igodomigodo by Oba Eweka. The ceremonies and represented a link
people also became known as the to the spiritual world. This mask of
Edo people. Queen ldia, who was the mother of Oba
Esigie, dates back to the 16th century. It
Yoruba The name of the people from the holy
is made of ivory and features intricate This
city of Ife. The histories of the Edo
carvings showing skilled craftsmanship. double
and Yoruba people are closely linked.
bell or Egogo,
ohen A priest who performed religious Coral beads have a special significance in was used by the Oba
ceremonies. traditional Edo customs. The beads are made from to scare away evil spirits
coral stones from the seas, which during religious ceremonies
animists People who believe that humans,
are polished and shaped. Edo and acts of worship. It is
animals and objects all have souls
chiefs would wear necklaces of believed to be from the
or spirits.
coral beads and the Oba would 16th century and it features
brass A yellowy metal made of a mixture wear necklaces, collars and crowns intricate carvings showing
of copper and zinc. made from them. the Oba and his followers.
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