Lesson Planning

Find out about the earliest contact with the Portuguese in 1489 and the subsequent boost to trade that was brought, especially the slave trade. Map the connections between Benin and the rest of the world before and after European contact.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To find out about Benin's earliest contacts with Europe.
• To map trade links Benin had before and after direct European contact.

Children will:

• Use a scale to estimate distance on a map.
• Appreciate the logistics of long distance trade before motorised vehicles and planes.
• Explain why Europe and Benin both benefitted from trading with each other.