Who did they trade with?

Topics Year 4/5
This unit is part of Benin (900 to 1300CE) Trade and Currency

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Objectives

History

Study a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history – Benin (West Africa) c. 900-1300 CE.
Children should construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information.

Geography

Describe and understand key aspects of human geography, including: types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water.
Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.

Lesson Planning

Explore the different trade routes that the kingdom of Benin used to trade with different people around Africa, and even beyond.

Teaching Outcomes:

To learn about different trade routes in pre-colonial Africa.
To use maps to trace trade routes through Africa.

Children will:

Read a map to identify trade routes and environmental zones
Research the environmental zones in Africa
Annotate a map with information about trade routes, environmental zones and transportation types

Planning

Provided Resources

Map of Africa with countries, major cities and historic kingdoms
Map of Africa with pre-colonial trade routes
Map of Africa with environmental zones
Different forms of transportation along African trade routes

You Will Need

Online maps or atlases
Colouring pencils

Weblinks

Pre-colonial trade routes in Africa from africanhistory.about.com
Image of pre-colonial trade routes in Africa from diasporicroots.tumblr.com
Image showing African biomes from upload.wikimedia.org