Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

History - African Kingdoms > Oyo and Dahomey > Flashcards

Oyo and Dahomey Flashcards

1
Q

What ethnicity is Oyo originated from?

A

Yoruba

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the capital of Oyo?

A

Oyo-Ile

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Who was the first Alaafin of the Yoruba Kingdom?

A

Oranmiyan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

When was it first founded?

A

1300

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What happened in the 1500s?

A

When was Dahomey founded?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

When was Dahomey founded?

A

1620-50

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What ethnicity was it?

A

Fon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Give the geographical advantages of Oyo:

A
  • Urban centre of Oyo = Savannah
  • South of this = thick forests
    Coastal lagoons at Lagos
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What happened in the 1660’s to Allada?

A

It weakened so Heuda becomes centre for European trade

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When did Heuda weaken?

A

1704

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What was Allada?

A
  • Major kingdom in region, engaged in trade w/ Dutch, French, Portuguese

-Sold them cloth, ivory, slaves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who and when were A+H conquered by?

A

Ahosu Agadja conquers Allada (1724) and Heuda (1727) so Dahomey is now the major kingdom along the coastline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Give the geographical advantages of Dahomey

A
  • Coastal kingdom
  • Main cities inland savannah
  • South of this = Mahi swamplands + rainforests
  • Kept deliberately wild by king
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Give a reason for Oyo’s fundamental strength

A

Oyo stronger bc of institutionalised longevity of Yoruba –> set precedent for formation first as opposed to Dahomey

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What else did the military depend on, apart from cavalry?

A
  • Oyo iron/blacksmiths weapons, made spears
  • Oko - Thrusting - stab
  • Esin - Throwing - distance
  • Archers on foot
  • Ilari led by 70 Eso (war chiefs)
  • Very complex military
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Give some military reasons for their strength

A

Alaafin Abipa reconquered Oyo-Ile through critical extensive cavalry use

  • Adv geo - moderate climate, south-west flat savannah terrain ideal for 🐴 training and use
  • Cavalry = useful, open plains 🐴 can gallop and charge at speed as opposed to a thick forest setting
  • Bred their own horses but initial breeding stock came from trade w/ Arabs and Berbers
  • Warfare dependent on 🐴
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What were the drawbacks of Oyo’s military?

A
  • Did not adopt firearms when in circulation
  • Muskets, rifles from Europeans
  • 1726 Oyo invaded Dahomey under Ojigi
  • The unfamiliar sound of firearms caused the cavalry to breaks bc they 🐴 were panicked by the sound
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What happened during 1726?

A
  • Oyo managed to subjugate Dahomey by force
  • Dahomey pay annual tribute of slaves, gunpowder, corals, cowrie shells.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Evidence for instability in Oyo

A

Between Abipa and Ojigi there were 5 unstable Alaafin’s

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the capital of Dahomey?

A

Abomey

18
Q

Before the conquest of A+H, did Dahomey have direct contact with the Europeans?

A

No bc at this point due to A + H doing the trading but they were known to Europeans as a major source of the slaves they bought from there

19
Q

Who was the kingdom consolidated by? How?

A
  • Kingdom consolidated by King Houegbadja
    who built the Royal Palaces of Dahomey in the mid-1600s
  • He established centralised bureaucracy and tax systems
  • Conducted war and slave raids South of Dahomey plateau
20
Q

How many men were in the army?

A

They didn’t have as many men in the army as Oyo. Stood at 10,000

21
Q

How were Dahomey paid for PoW?

A

Paid in slaves, cowries, luxuries such as silk, gunpowder and firearms

22
Q

What were key characteristics of the Dahomean army?

A
  • They were honed into efficient, lethal fighting machines and formed the backbone of the musket-armed infantry
  • Trained from the age of 7-8
  • Expert and disciple key characteristics of the army
22
Q

A+H - Middleman position

A

Agadja 1718, conquered Allada and Heuda and cut out the middleman in European trade, making themselves in direct control of the slave trade

22
Q

What happened at the end of the conquest/conflict?

A
  • They secured favourable terms, non-intervention with the European powers at the end of the conflict
  • End slave raids into Dahomeyan territory by A+H, secure access to European weapons to fight off threats
23
Q

What happened in 1730 during Agadja’s reign?

A

1730 Agadja was forced to accept the tributary position and sent his son Tegbessou to Oyo-Ile as a hostage

23
Q

What is the general political structure of Oyo?

A
  • Federal, dispersed power
  • Alaafin = supreme overlord of ppl, head of empire
  • He had many responsibilities such as to keep tributaries safe, settle internal disputes, give subordinates honours.
  • Sub-rulers had to pay homage to him and pledge their allegiance to him at festivals
  • The Bere festival is a key example of this, and marked the continuation of a successful rule
24
Q

What is the Oyo Mesi?

A
  • There were 7 hereditary, councillors of state
  • Constituted the electoral council and had legislative powers
  • They were responsible for state interests, commanded the military and were prevented the Alaafin from becoming an autocrat
25
Q

Give 2 roles in the Oyo Mesi

A
  • PM = Bashorun
  • Samu = sacrificial minister
26
Q

Succession in Oyo

A

Chosen by Oyo Mesi but must descent from Oranmiyan

27
Q

Aremo

A
  • Must commit suicide with father to prevent him from trying to take his father’s place - mutually assured destruction

Aremo held significant power as he could leave the palace regularly which meant he was visible to the ppl

28
Q

Who had final say on Alaafin nomination?

A

The Bashorun. This gave them religious power bc they were strongly associated with key ceremony and ritual in Oyo

29
Q
A
30
Q
A
31
Q

Detail the destabilizing and corrupt Bashorun and what he did

A

1750-1774 Bashorun Gaha made 4 Alaafin’s commit suicide but was overthrown by Alaafin Abiodun but there was irreparable damage and the kingdom was weakened

32
Q
A
33
Q
A
34
Q

Why were the powerful?

A
  • Their age, wisdom gave them importance in religious and political matters
  • They had power over the people due to their religious legitimacy
  • The leader was the OLUWO who had unchecked direct access to the Alaafin at any time
35
Q
A
35
Q
A
36
Q
A
36
Q

Give the general political structure/roles in Dahomey

A
  • Mehu -PM
    • Yvogan - international trade
    • Migan - Internal trade
    • Ahusu was very powerful and had the final say on all matters and other officials could not express dissent outside of meetings
  • Hereditary succession
37
Q

Dahomey succession

A

Hereditary

38
Q

Political structure 2

A
  • Villages and towns with their own tribal leaders and elders
  • Ahosu appointed representatives to villages to ensure interests, tax, resolve disputes
39
Q
A
40
Q
A

History - African Kingdoms (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions