Ife and Benin: A Historic Relationship of Art, Trade, and Power History JSS 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 5

History Lesson Plan: Relationship Between People from Different Centers of Civilization in Pre-Colonial Nigeria – Ife and Benin Empire

1. Subject: History
2. Class: JSS 2
3. Term: First Term
4. Week: 5
5. Age: 12-13 years
6. Topic: Relationship Between People from Different Centers of Civilization – Ife and Benin Empire
7. Sub-Topic: Political, Cultural, and Economic Relationships
8. Duration: 40 minutes
9. Behavioral Objectives:
   By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
10. Explain the political relationship between Ife and the Benin Empire.
11. Describe the cultural exchanges between the two civilizations.
12. Identify the economic connections that existed between Ife and Benin.
13. Keywords: Ife, Benin Empire, civilization, trade, culture, diplomacy
14. Set Induction:
    The teacher will ask, “Have you ever heard of the ancient kingdoms of Ife or Benin? What do you know about them?” This will engage the students and set the tone for the lesson.
15. Entry Behavior:
    Students have learned about centralized and non-centralized societies, giving them an understanding of political systems in pre-colonial Nigeria.
16. Learning Resources and Materials:

• Map of pre-colonial Nigeria showing Ife and Benin
• Pictures of Ife and Benin artifacts (e.g., sculptures, masks)

14. Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:
    Students have previously studied Ife and the Benin Empire separately. This lesson will focus on their interactions and shared history.
15. Embedded Core Skills:

• Critical thinking
• Map reading
• Analytical discussion

16. Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for History
• History for Junior Secondary Schools

17. Instructional Materials:

• Map of ancient Nigerian kingdoms
• Pictures of artifacts from Ife and Benin

Content

Political Relationship Between Ife and Benin Empire

• According to tradition, the Benin monarchy is believed to have originated from Ife.
• The first king of Benin, Oranmiyan, was a prince from Ife.
• Political ties were maintained through diplomatic relations and exchanges of leaders.

Cultural Exchanges Between Ife and Benin

1. Art and Sculpture: The famous Benin bronzes were influenced by the art traditions of Ife.
2. Religion and Beliefs: Both civilizations believed in multiple gods and revered ancestral spirits.
3. Festivals and Ceremonies: Both Ife and Benin celebrated elaborate festivals to honor gods and ancestors.

Economic Connections Between Ife and Benin

• Ife and Benin engaged in trade with each other, exchanging goods such as ivory, beads, and cloth.
• Both centers of civilization were involved in the regional trade networks in West Africa, including long-distance trade with the Sahel and the forest regions.
• Craftsmen from Ife were sometimes invited to Benin to assist with artistic projects.

15 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions with Options

1. The origin of the Benin monarchy is linked to ______.
   a) Ife b) Sokoto c) Oyo d) Kano
   Answer: a) Ife
2. The first Oba of Benin was ______.
   a) Eweka b) Oranmiyan c) Esigie d) Ozolua
   Answer: b) Oranmiyan
3. The relationship between Ife and Benin involved exchanges in ______.
   a) Weapons b) Art and culture c) Foreign invasions d) Religion only
   Answer: b) Art and culture
4. Both Ife and Benin were known for their ______ artworks.
   a) Pottery b) Textile c) Bronze d) Stone carvings
   Answer: c) Bronze
5. Ife influenced Benin’s art tradition through ______.
   a) Dance b) Sculpting techniques c) Storytelling d) Weapon production
   Answer: b) Sculpting techniques
6. The Benin bronzes were made to honor ______.
   a) Ancestors b) Foreign visitors c) Traders d) Kings of Sokoto
   Answer: a) Ancestors
7. Craftsmen from Ife were sometimes invited to ______.
   a) Sokoto b) Benin c) Oyo d) Zaria
   Answer: b) Benin
8. Ife and Benin traded goods like ______.
   a) Copper b) Diamonds c) Ivory and beads d) Oil
   Answer: c) Ivory and beads
9. Religion in both Ife and Benin involved reverence for ______.
   a) Mountains b) Rivers c) Ancestral spirits d) Temples
   Answer: c) Ancestral spirits
10. The Oba of Benin traced his origin to a prince from ______.
    a) Ife b) Kano c) Sokoto d) Bornu
    Answer: a) Ife

15 FAQs with Answers

1. What is the connection between Ife and Benin?
   The Benin monarchy is believed to have originated from Ife.
2. Who was Oranmiyan?
   Oranmiyan was a prince from Ife who became the first ruler of Benin.
3. What type of art did both Ife and Benin produce?
   They produced bronze sculptures and other artworks.
4. What goods did Ife and Benin trade?
   They traded ivory, beads, and cloth.
5. How were religious beliefs similar in both Ife and Benin?
   Both revered multiple gods and ancestral spirits.
6. Why were craftsmen from Ife invited to Benin?
   To assist with artistic projects, including sculptures.
7. What festivals were celebrated in both Ife and Benin?
   Festivals to honor gods and ancestors were common.
8. What influence did Ife have on Benin’s art?
   Benin’s bronzes were influenced by Ife’s art traditions.
9. How did the two civilizations maintain political ties?
   Through diplomatic relations and exchanges of leaders.
10. What river is close to the Ife civilization?
    The Osun River.

Presentation Steps

1. Step 1: Review the previous lesson on Ife and Benin separately.
2. Step 2: Introduce the topic by explaining the connections between Ife and Benin.
3. Step 3: Engage students by discussing how civilizations influence each other.

Teacher’s Activities

• Display a map showing the locations of Ife and Benin.
• Explain the historical connection between the two civilizations.
• Show pictures of artifacts and discuss their significance.

Learners’ Activities

• Identify the location of Ife and Benin on the map.
• Participate in class discussions on trade and cultural exchanges.
• Answer questions during the lesson.

Assessment

• Describe the political relationship between Ife and Benin.
• List two cultural exchanges between Ife and Benin.
• Explain the economic connection between the two civilizations.

10 Evaluation Questions

1. Where did the first Oba of Benin come from?
2. What type of artworks are Ife and Benin known for?
3. What is the importance of ancestral worship in Ife and Benin?
4. Name two items traded between Ife and Benin.
5. How did Ife influence Benin’s art tradition?
6. What role did festivals play in both civilizations?
7. Who was Oranmiyan?
8. How did Ife craftsmen contribute to Benin?
9. What is one similarity in the religion of Ife and Benin?
10. How were political ties maintained between Ife and Benin?

Conclusion

The teacher will summarize the lesson by reviewing the key points about the political, cultural, and economic relationships between Ife and Benin. Students’ responses will be marked, and necessary feedback will be given.