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At the beginning of the 16th century, word quickly spread around Europe about the beautiful African city, and new visitors flocked in from all parts of Europe, with ever glowing testimonies, recorded in numerous voyage notes and illustrations. Now, however, the great Benin City is lost to history. Its decline began in the 15th century, sparked by internal conflicts linked to the increasing European intrusion and slavery trade at the borders of the Benin empire.
Then in , the city was destroyed by British soldiers — looted, blown up and burnt to the ground. Nowadays, while a modern Benin City has risen on the same plain, the ruins of its former, grander namesake are not mentioned in any tourist guidebook to the area. They have not been preserved, nor has a miniature city or touristic replica been made to keep alive the memory of this great ancient city.
The house possesses features that match the horizontally fluted walls, pillars, central impluvium and carved decorations observed in the architecture of ancient Benin. Curious tourists visiting Edo state in Nigeria are often shown places that might once have been part of the ancient city — but its walls and moats are nowhere to be seen.
A money-spinner worth countless billions in annual tourist revenue.
Instead, if you wish to get a glimpse into the glorious past of the ancient Benin kingdom — and a better understanding of this groundbreaking city — you are better off visiting the Benin Bronze Sculptures section of the British Museum in central London. Does your city have a little-known story that made a major impact on its development?
Please share it in the comments below or on Twitter using storyofcities. The story of cities Cities. Story of cities 5: Benin City, the mighty medieval capital now lost without trace. Register Another [elephant tusk trumpet], similar [to Af, A band of guilloche decoration round the large end.
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It is celebrated at a time between Christmas and New Year. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Not to be confused with the West African country of Benin , west of Nigeria.
City in Edo, Nigeria. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 31 May BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 8 June Retrieved 2 April Africa and the development of international law Second edition, first published ed.
Springer Netherlands. Retrieved 27 January The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 3 April In , after the Edo slaughtered a British delegation, colonial forces, pledging to end slavery and ritual sacrifice, ransacked the city and burned it to the ground.
Exports : This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f. Caution must be maintained when utilizing this indicator in international comparisons. Current account balance : This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments such as pension funds and worker remittances to and from the rest of the world during the period specified. Contact the Employment Verification Office. While it's widely accepted that Senegal invented this dish, the concept spread to West African countries. This has led many people to lose confidence in the prospect of getting justice in this institution.
Journal of Black Studies. The Benin Massacre Akinwunmi, Ogundiran ed. Precolonial Nigeria ed.
African World Press Inc. Baseline climate means from stations all over the world in German. Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 9 August