By: Marykate Juliano & Andrea Merring The Dahomey Kingdom By: Marykate Juliano & Andrea Merring This was the flag of the Dahomey Kingdom.

Overview Creation of the Dahomey Kingdom The Amazons Kingdom Location Map of the Dahomey Kingdom Years of Existence Key Information The Dahomey Kingdom’s Rise and Fall Significance Bibliography

Creation of the Dahomey Kingdom Founder: Chief of the Fon People, Folk Lore Origin: Moved from Abomey along with other small groups to form the Kingdom of Dahomey Government: Originally autocratic; developed into an absolute monarchy King Guezo: Early Exports: Vegetable oils, palm oil, & various crops European Trade = Firearms for Slaves Built Amazon Army; Defeated Oyo rival & Expanded (“Dahomey”)

The Amazons Only all-female official front-line combat arms military unit in modern history. Progression: Elephant hunters Bodyguards (800) to King Ada Honzoo Elite warriors (4,000) Recruitment: Volunteer or Force (unfit wife) Amazons were “off-limits” (penalty = death) Unstoppable Force Abeokuta Franco-Dahomean Wars "If soldiers go to war they should conquer or die." - Motto of the Dahomey Amazons (Dash)

She intones a song of victory and dances: The blood flows, You are dead. We have won. The blood flows, it flows, it flows. The enemy is no more. (Dash)

Kingdom Location Narrow Atlantic Coastal Strip off of West Africa Allowed easy access for slave trade Geography: low = swampy, forest-like highlands = grassy plains Intense heat and humidity Present Day: Country of Benin (size of Tennessee) ("Benin.")

Map of the Dahomey Kingdom Kingdom expands from 1820-1890 Defeat of Oyo allows expansion (Amazons) Reaches Current Size (Benin) in 1890 ("Benin.")

Years of Existence 1620-1975 King Dogbari: 1620, Abomey instated as the capital of the Dahomey Kingdom Abomey expands through military conquest- powerful state Dahomey created in the early 18th century French Control: 1890-1994 People’s Republic of Benin: Renamed in 1975 by the military government 1990 - Republic of Benin (“The Kingdom of Dahomey: A Brief History.” )

Key Information to Remember Dahomey Kingdom was organized for war Had control over Western Africa Extreme reverence for Kings Could thank success to slave trade Official religion was Vodoun King of Hogbonou signed protectorate with France in 1894 Became a self governed republic in 1960 Gained full independence. Changed its name to Benin in 1975 “Dahomey”

The Rise and Fall of Dahomey Slave trade ultimately caused both the rise and the fall of the Dahomey Kingdom Dahomey gained control of the slave trade with the Europeans Rule of Gezu (1818-1858) End of slave trade caused Dahomey to produce new products that did not bring in the same revenue (hurt economy) Attack on Dahomey France attacks in 1892 Kongo is forced to step down and the kingdom becomes a French colony in 1894 “Kingdom of Dahomey”

Significance Once they got their independence, the Republic of Benin decided to turn to democracy in 1989 The way that the Dahomeans practiced their religion would influence future generations A stable slave trade between Europe and West Africa was created "HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN."

Bibliography “Dahomey.” The Ouidah Museum of History. Web. 25 Feb 2016. “The Kingdom of Dahomey: A Brief History.” Benin Other Places Travel Guide. Other Places Publishing, 2010. Web. 25 Feb 2016. "Benin." Www.infoplease.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. Dash, Mike. "Dahomey's Women Warriors." Www.smithsonianmag.com. N.p., 23 Sept. 2011. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. "Kingdom of Dahomey." - New World Encyclopedia. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Kingdom_of_Dahomey>. "HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN." HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN. Web. 26 Feb. 2016. <http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad17>.