Hello, I'm Ms. Crano, and I am so pleased that you have joined me for this history lesson about non-European societies, where we will learn about the kingdom of Benin and Europe.

In this lesson, we're gonna explore a fascinating chapter in history, one that involves art, exploration and the consequences of cultural contact.

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to explain how contact with Europeans led to the Benin Bronzes being looted, and it is my job to support you with the learning material and resources, but before we start the lesson, I would like to introduce you to some key words.

These are words that will come up during the lesson and they will help you to make sense of your learning.

The words are enslaved, transatlantic, British Nigeria, loot.

I'm going to say these words again, but this time, I'd like you to read them with me.

Are you ready? Here we go.

Enslaved, transatlantic, British Nigeria, loot.

Let's find out what these words mean.

Enslaved.

When a person is enslaved, it means that they are forced to be a slave.

Transatlantic means crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

British Nigeria.

British Nigeria refers to the time when Nigeria was ruled by the British Empire from the mid 19th century until 1960 when they achieved independence.

Loot, loot means to steal items from a place during a war, but it can also mean the stolen items themselves.

Now, you might want to take a note of these words, so that when you encounter them in the lesson, you can refer back to your notes to remind yourself of their meaning.

So pause the video here and when you are ready to start the lesson, press play.

This lesson about Ben in Europe has two learning cycles, and the first one is entitled, Trade with Europe.

Our learning journey begins in the ancient Kingdom of Benin, renowned for its magnificent artworks known as the Benin Bronzes.

Benin city was a bustling place in West Africa, where skilled artisans crafted beautiful bronze sculptures that adorned the royal palace and temples.

These artworks were not only symbols of the kingdom's wealth and power, but also expressions of its rich cultural heritage, but as we'll soon discover, the arrival of European explorers in Africa would change the fate of these treasured artworks forever.

Around 1485, European explorers hungry for new lands and resources made their way to the shores of West Africa.

Imagine yourself standing on the shores of West Africa, gazing out at the vast Atlantic Ocean, it's the 15th century and you notice something extraordinary, a fleet of ships sailing towards the coast.

These are the Portuguese explorers, eager to chart new territories and establish new trade route.

The Portuguese were drawn to West Africa by the promise of riches and exotic goods.

They wanted to establish trade relations with the local kingdoms, such as the powerful Kingdom of Benin.

Soon a strong trade relationship developed between Portugal and the kingdom.

This involved the Portuguese trading various goods, including firearms, textiles, and other items that were made in Europe, for goods from the kingdom of Benin such as ivory and palm oil.

Unfortunately, enslaved people were also often used as parts of these trades.

The Portuguese also used manillas to pay for their goods.

Manillas were bracelets that were made of copper or bronze.

We can pause this lesson a moment to check for understanding.

Explain to your partner how this Benin Bronze plaque of a Portuguese soldier shows that they were involved in trade.

Pause the video here, and when you are ready to reflect on the answer, press play.

Now, your answer could have included, the soldier on the plaque are surrounded by manillas, which was used as money to buy goods from the people of the Kingdom of Benin.

This suggests that the Portuguese brought manillas with them to exchange for other items. Well done if your answer is similar to this one.

Portugal was one of the European countries that took part in the transatlantic slave trade.

This trade involved millions of Africans being taken from their homes and sent to work in the Americas on plantations and other jobs that involved hard labour.

The Kingdom of Benin, just like many other African places, was where European traders found people to enslave.

In the 17th century, the Dutch, French and English also became involved in this trade.

Trading with the European countries made the Kingdom Of Benin very rich and powerful.

The kingdom became wealthier and stronger, because they were able to sell more goods and make more money.

How much can you recall about what you have just learned? Some European countries became involved in the transatlantic slave trade, but what does that mean? Is is A? African people were enslaved and taken across the Atlantic Ocean to work in plantations.

Is it B? African people volunteered to be taken across the Atlantic Ocean to work in plantations, or C, Europeans were enslaved and brought to Africa.

Pause the video here, and when you are ready for the answer, press play.

The answer of course is A.

African people were enslaved and taken across the Atlantic Ocean to work in plantations.

Good work.

We have now come to the first learning task of this lesson.

It says, in column B, explain the significance of the words or dates in column A.

Thinking about the kingdom's trade with Europe.

The words and dates in column A are 1485, manillas and the 1600s.

Pause the video here, and when you are ready to reflect on the answers, press play.

Let's investigate the answers.

Your answers could include 1485.

That was when the first Portuguese explorers reached the Kingdom of Benin and started to trade.

Manillas, these are bracelets made of copper or bronze, which the Portuguese used as payment for goods, including enslaved people and the 1600s is when the Dutch, French, and English also became involved in trade with the Kingdom of Benin.

Well done, if your answers are similar to these.

In the second learning cycle of this lesson, we are going to learn about the Benin expedition.

By the 19th century, the once powerful Kingdom of Benin began to lose its power and influence.

There were many reasons for this.

For example, there was conflict among the people who helped the Oba rule the kingdom.

Another reason is that the transatlantic slave trade was abolished in the 19th century, and this had previously made Benin a lot of money, and now that income was lost.

Yet another reason is that neighbouring kingdoms and states were growing stronger and they had their eye on Benins wealth and power, and Europeans wanted to take control of regions in West Africa.

Britain wanted to take control of trade and resources in the area, because they wanted to have more power in Africa.

In 1897, British forces invaded the Kingdom of Benin and captured Benin city.

The invasion is known as the Benin Expedition.

Say whether the statement is true or false.

The Benin expedition was a group of British explorers in the Kingdom of Benin.

True or false? Well, that statement of course is false.

Let's justify why we say it is false.

In other words, let's give a reason why we have said the statement is false.

Is it A, the Benin expedition was a group of Edo traders in Britain, or B, the Benin expedition was the invasion of Benin city by British forces.

Pause the video here and when you're ready for the answer, press play.

The answer is B, the Benin expedition was the invasion of Benin city by British forces.

Well done, if you got that right.

The British soldiers set the city, including the Oba's palace on fire, causing a lot of damage.

Their goal was to take control of the kingdom and become the rulers of the area.

Because of this attack, the Oba was overthrown and the kingdom became part of British Nigeria.

The Kingdom of Benin was forever changed.

It wasn't free to rule itself anymore and instead it was under British control.

Let's check for understanding.

Which one of the statements is not a consequence of the Benin expedition? Is it A? The Kingdom of Benin became part of British Nigeria.

B, the Oba was overthrown.

C, the transatlantic slave trade ended.

D, it wasn't free to rule itself anymore and came under British control.

Pause the video here and when you have decided on the statement that is the odd one out, press play.

The statement that is not a consequence of the Benin expedition is, the transatlantic slave trade ended.

Well done, if you got that one right.

After the attack, many houses, sacred sites, ceremonial buildings and palaces of the high ranking chiefs were looted.

The British soldiers robbed the city of thousands of pieces of Edo artworks.

They kept most of it for themselves, but they also sent around two and a half thousand religious items, historical objects and artworks back to Britain.

These included special plaques and sculptures known as the Benin Bronzes.

Almost half the artefacts were taken to the British museum.

While some pieces were given to soldiers as rewards for fighting in the war.

The British Navy took some of the treasures and sold them at auctions to pay for the costs of the expedition.

Let's consolidate what we have just learned by answering this question.

Place the events in the correct order by numbering them one to four, starting with the earliest.

The events are, British forces invade, capture and loot Benin city of its artworks, including the Benin Bronzes, countries in Europe start trading with the Kingdom of Benin, many of the looted bronzes are taken to the British Museum, Britain wants to expand its trade network in West Africa.

Pause the video here, and once you have placed the events in the correct order, press play to check your answers, Let's check the answers.

The first statement is, countries in Europe start trading with the Kingdom of Benin.

Second, Britain wants to expand its trade network in West Africa.

Third, British forces invade, capture and loot Benin City of its artworks, including the Benin Bronzes and lastly, many of the looted bronzes are taken to the British museum.

Well done if you place those statements in the correct order.

Here is the second learning task of this lesson.

Explain the events that led up to the Benin Bronzes being looted.

Use the following words and phrases to support your explanation.

Portuguese traders, Dutch, French, and English traders, enslaved people, the Benin Expedition, looted.

Pause the video here, and when you are ready to reflect on the answer, press play.

Well, your answer could have included the following.

In around 1485, the first Portuguese traders reached the Kingdom of Benin and traded in items such as firearms and textiles in exchange for ivory, palm oil and enslaved people.

In the 1600s CE, Dutch, French and English traders also became involved, which created more wealth and power for the kingdom of Benin.

The British wanted to take control of trade and resources in West Africa, so they launched the Benin expedition where they attacked Benin City, burning it to the ground.

Many of the Edo artworks and Benin Bronzes were looted during the attack.

Good work, well done if your answer is similar to this and an extra big well done, if you manage to use all the words and phrases highlighted in green.

We have now come to the end of this lesson, but before we go, let's summarise what we have learned about the Kingdom of Benin and Europe.

Around 1485, Portugal began trading items with the kingdom of Benin in exchange for ivory, palm oil and enslaved people.

The Dutch, French, and English also became involved in this trade, making the kingdom very rich and powerful.

In the 1800s CE, Britain wanted to expand its trade network and power in West Africa.

In 1897, British forces invaded and captured Benin city.

The invasion is known as the Benin Expedition During the invasion, thousands of pieces of Edo artwork were looted.

Thank you for joining me in this learning adventure about Benin and Europe, and well done all your hard work.

I hope to see you again very soon.