The Republic of Benin was the seat of one of the great medieval African kingdoms, called Dahomey, governed from the capital, Abomey, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. ... Dahomey was a kingdom in Africa, situated in what is now the nation of Benin. ... Abomey is a town in Benin, formerly the capital of the ancient kingdom of Dahomey. ... UNESCO logo The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... Site #86: Memphis and its Necropolis, including the Pyramids of Giza (Egypt). ...

Kingdom of Benin

Main article: Kingdom of Benin

During the 13th century, the indigenous Edo people of the west Niger area were run by a group of local chieftains, but by the 15th century a single ruler known as the 'oba' had asserted control. See Kingdom of Benin. Under the dynasty established by Ewuare the Great, the most famous of the obas, Benin's territory expanded to cover a region between the Niger River delta and what is now the Nigerian city of Lagos. The obas brought great prosperity and a highly organized state to Benin. They also established good relations and an extensive slave trade with the Portuguese and Dutch who arrived from the 15th century onwards. The Kingdom of Benin was a widespread empire, which flourished from the 14th to the 19th century. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... The indigenous peoples of Africa are those peoples from the African region whose way of life, attachment or claims to particular lands, and social and political standing in relation to other more dominant groups have resulted in their substantial marginalisation within modern African states. ... The Kingdom of Benin was a widespread empire, which flourished from the 14th to the 19th century. ... Map of Niger River with Niger River basin in green. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ...

Colonial Benin

The decline of the obas began in the 18th century when a series of internal power struggles began which lasted into the 19th century, paving the way for the French takeover and colonization of the country in 1872. In 1904, the territory was incorporated into French West Africa as Dahomey. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ... French West Africa (Afrique occidentale française, or AOF) was a federation of eight French territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), Guinea, Côte dIvoire, Niger, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and Dahomey (now Benin). ... Dahomey was a kingdom in Africa, situated in what is now the nation of Benin. ...

Under the French a port was constructed at Cotonou, and railroads were built. School facilities were expanded by Roman Catholic missions. In 1946, Dahomey became an overseas territory with its own parliament and representation in the French national assembly; and on December 4, 1958, it became the République du Dahomey, self-governing within the French Community. Cotonou, population 536,827 (1992), is the seat of government of Benin, though the official capital is Porto-Novo. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Insert non-formatted text hereInsert non-formatted text here:This article is about the legislative institution. ... December 4 is the 338th day (339th on leap years) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Post-colonial Benin

On August 1, 1960, the Republic of Dahomey gained full independence from France. The first president was Hubert Maga, who bore the title Prime Minister during the country's last year under French rule. Instability caused by economic troubles, social unrest and ethnic tensions brought about a coup in 1963 and Justin Ahomadegbé was appointed president until he was deposed in 1969 and Lt. Col.Paul-Émile de Souza was made president. August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... Hubert Maga (1916-2000) became the first president of Dahomey, now Benin, when the country gained independence from France on August 1, 1960. ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... Justin Tometin Ahomadegbe (1917- 8 March 2002) was a Benin political figure. ...

When elections were cancelled in 1970, a three man presidential council was appointed, it included Maga, his politically ally Sourou Migan Apithy and Ahomadegbé. Another coup was staged in 1972 and a government led by Major Mathieu Kérékou was installed. The name of the country was changed to Benin in 1975. From 1974 to 1989 Kérékou ran the country as a socialist state, earning for the country the label of "Africa's Cuba". Free elections were reestablished in 1991, and Kérékou was defeated by Nicéphor Soglo, Soglo however lost the 1996 election to Kérékou and he has remained in power since despite allegations of electoral fraud in the 2001 election. Sourou Migan Apithy (born 1913) was a Benin political figure. ... (Ahmed) Mathieu Kérékou (born September 2, 1933) is the president of Benin. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The color red and particularly the red flag are traditional symbols of Socialism. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also: History of Africa History of West Africa The following is an outline of African history, followed by a list of articles about the history of particular places in Africa. ... The history of West Africa can be divided into five major periods: first, its prehistory, in which the first human settlers arrrived, agriculture developed, and contact made with the Mediterranean civilizations to the north; the second, the Iron Age empires that consolidated trade and developed centralized states; third, the slave...

External links

• Rulers.org — Benin List of rulers for Benin

References

• This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. 2000
• This article contains material from the US Department of State's Background Notes which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. 2003