Slide 1

My project is on the History of the Kingdom of Benin.

Slide 2

The Kingdom of Benin

•        Founded in 10 century

According to Benin Tradition:

•        Edo people who inhabit Benin area invited Prince Oranmiyan of Ife (one of the Yoruba States) to remove ruling Ogisos (there is a story about a marriage but historians say its only to cover up being ruled by another people)

•        Oranmiyan’s son Eweka = first Oba of Benin

Slide 3

•        13th Century: Benin = agglomeration of farms enclosed by walls and a ditch

•        1280: Art of bronze and brass casting introduced

•        Benin Kingdom actively involved in slave trade

•        14th - 17th century: Kingdom of Benin flourished

•        14th Century: ruling dynasty in Benin began

•        1485: Benin visited by Portuguese

•        1480s: Benin began to trade with Portuguese

Slide 4

•        By 15th Century: Oba had become a paramount in Benin Kingdom

•        Oba Ewuare (the first Golden Age Oba)

-- credited for turning Benin City into a military fortress protected by moats & walls

-- Launched his military campaigns & began expansion of Kingdom

Slide 5

•        During 15th Century: Oba Ewuare increased Oba’s power by introducing primogeniture (the system where son succeeds father) ß this diminished the power of the uzama (powerful group of hereditary chiefs who have a prominent role in selecting the Oba)

•        Oba Ewuare: tried to find political ballast to the uzama à created categories of Palace Chiefs and Town Chiefs which he appointed

•        Ewuare and his son Ozolua increased size of Benin so that the Kingdom extended east from the Niger River and west to the eastern portions of Yoruba.

Slide 6

•        ~1504-1550: Ozolua’s son, Esigie, ruled

•        Esigie: established close contacts with Portuguese

•        Under Esigie’s rule, artists produced most famous works

•        After Esigie’s death: Obas withdrew from political life

•        Obas set up a royal monopoly over trade in pepper & ivory  with Europeans

•        1500-1800: Benin Kingdom grew in wealth & power (mostly through extensive trade with Portugal)

•        Benin = important exporter of cloth

Slide 7

•        15th - 16th Century: Benin Kingdom reached maximum size and artistic splendor

•        Early 16th Century: Oba sent ambassador to Lisbon & King of Portugal sent Christian missionaries to Benin

• 16th Century: Benin prevented decrease in population by prohibiting export of male slaves.   However, they continued to import slaves bought by Europeans from West Africa

Slide 8

•        16th - 17th Century:

–         Benin was rich in slave trade with Europe (Bight of Benin’s shore = “Slave Coast”)

–         Style & form of Benin’s artistic Oba heads changed

•        ~1700: City & Kingdom of Benin declined along with the slave trade

•        Late 18th - 19th Century: Political & military power of the Oba undermined by shift in trade to Guinea Coast & by rebellions of powerful chiefs within Kingdom

Slide 9

•        Beginning of 19th Century: abolition of slave trade

•        19th Century: Benin revived with development of trade in palm products with Europeans.

•        Oba gradually banned exported goods from Benin until trade was exclusively I palm oil

•        End of 19th Century: British established its presence along present-day Nigerian Coast

•        1892: Trade & protection treaty drawn by British Capt. Gallwey

•        The Niger Coast Protectorate government established its authority, usually by force.  BUT: Benin insisted on retaining sovereignty & trading independence

Slide 10

•        The Niger Coast Protectorate government established its authority, usually by force.  BUT: Benin insisted on retaining sovereignty & trading independence

•        1897: The Punitive Expedition –a 1200-strong British force, under Admiral Sir Harry Rawson’s command, conquered & burned Benin city (destroyed much art); palace was sacked by British

•        British set apart Warri Province to punish Oba of Benin & curb his powers

Slide 11

•        Late 19th Century: Some residents of Benin are still capable of speaking a pidgin Portuguese

•        1914: Benin monarchy restored BUT: true power lays with colonial administration of Nigeria

•        Today: Africa Reparations Movement – Making an effort to get back the art that was taken by the British

Slide 12

Bibliography

Benin City. 6 Jan. 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 25 Feb. 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin_City>

Giblin, James. Introduction: Diffusion and other Problems in the History of African States. 7 Mar. 1999. University of Iowa. 25 Feb. 2006 <http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/history/giblinstate.html#benin>

Grant, Bernie. The British and the Benin Bronzes. ARC. 26 Feb. 2006 <http://www.arm.arc.co.uk/britishBenin.html>

Kingdom of Benin. 10 Feb. 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 26 Feb. 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Benin>

Raskin, Ilya, and Yuri Raskin. Tribal African Art. African Art Museum. 27 Feb. 2006 <http://www.zyama.com/benin/pics..htm>

Ross, Emma G. Benin Chronology. 2006. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 26 Feb. 2006 <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/bnch/hd_bnch.htm>

First Nations Art: the Seal

Background

• The harbour seal (aka hair seal) was very important to the First Nations tribes on the Northwest Coast of North America (below: harbour seals)
  
• Seal was a source of oil as well as blubber and meat
• Seal meat was used in a particular dish called the Seal Dish (aka Potlatch Dish or House Dish because the harbour was also a family crest in some tribes
• Seal Dish was presented at potlatches

Mythology

• no legends focused only on the seal
• Tsimshian had a legend where Sisutl, adouble-headed serpent of the sea), who has the ability to transform itself between man and animal, liked to gain the shape of a double-headed canoe.  The canoe would creak and its owner would have to feed the canoe seals.
• The Igliuik had a legend on how seals came into existence:
  
  "Long ago a great catastrophe caused the world's supporting pillars to collapse and destroy the earth. Two men emerged full-grown from hummocks of earth. They married each other, and one became heavy with child. The other man sang a magic song, which caused the pregnant man's penis to divide, he then became a woman and gave birth to a girl child. The mother and father giants cared for the child who grew large and fiercely loved meat. One night she bit into her parents limbs while they slept. They awoke in horror as she tried to bite them again. They took her in a umiak far out into the deepest sea, where they pushed her into the water. She clung to the side of the boat, so they cut off her fingers. The fingers became whales, seals, and shoals of fish. The giant parents were afraid of their child and they rowed away into the night. The giant girl became the demon girl Sedna, the Great Mother of sea creatures. She causes storms and governs the migrations of her sea creature children."

• Many stories also associated indirectly with seals. ie. the Kwakiutl had a King of the Undersea World known as Komokwa, "wealthy one", also called the Protector of Seals. (Below: a picture of Komokwa)
  

Representation and Symbolism

• Traditionally, the seal represents:
  -wealth and plenty
  -inquisitiveness

  

  -organization
• In a more contemporary view, the seal represents:
  -curiosity (but in a more adventurous and fun way)
  -playfulness

How New Ideas of Representation Affect the Art

• Different way of curving lines give a different message ie. curvier lines give a sense of natural curiosity
• New expressions and postures: seals seem more playful (see pictue right of coffee table)
• Brighter colours: a new boldness, makes the seals seem more playful and adventurous

Motifs and Elements

•  Eyes:
  -Eyes themselves are solid black (may or may not have a rim of white)
  -Same eyelids: a rectangular almond shape with corners that taper sharply (eyes differ slightly between northern and southern tribes)
  
  -Below: an Athabaskan seal mask: the ovoid eyes are again apparent, the face coming out ressembles the seal and the distinct nostrils of the seal are evident
  
• Nostrils:
  -sloped and rounded
  -flared
   (Left: a seal rattle.  Notice the mouth which is the same on all seal Northwest Coast native art.  Also, the prominent wide nostrils)
• Mouth:
  -Stretched ovoid (sometimes with an inner ovoid, if there are teeth)
  
•  Body:
  -Stubbier than a sea lion's body (sea lion is much curvier and round)
  -Flippers are not very prominent in design because the are not actually used in swimming much
  -Consistenent in using the U-form, like many animals do , for the torso (it fits well with how the seal bends) (below: a seal bowl)
  
• Body Position:
  -Seal is often portrayed on its belly
  -When seal is in action: more slender (below, a seal after a salmon)
  
• When on a totem pole, the seal is on its belly and all parts are shown
  

  

Modern vs. Traditional Designs of the Seal

• Colour:
  -Bold, black lines outline entire design with red and green in some places (traditional)
  -Outline is done entirely in a bright bold colour ie. red/ blue (modern)
• Body Shape:
  -Rounder at the seal's back and more curvaceous (modern)
  
  -Upside-down rounded trapezoid for belly of seal (traditional)

Mask

•  This is an Inuit seal mask but it is very similar to that of the Athabaskan's and has many of the motifs you see in the NWC masks:  the widened mouth, the teeth are present and the almond-shaped eyes.

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Geography: To Describe the Earth

Geography:  The study of the earth's surface, its features and human interaction with the

 environment.

Branches in Geography

Physical Geography       Human Geography                  Oceanography

-Geomorphology     -Historical Geography        -Biological Oceanography

-Hydrology             -Geopolitics                      -Physical Oceanography    

-Glaciology            -Cultural Geography           -Chemical Oceanography

Socio-Environmental Geography              Cartography~

-Cultural & Political Ecology

-Risk-Hazards Research

*Note that all the above are only examples of geography.  A more detailed list can be found

at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography

 

Geographer

-studies natural and societal processes which shape our surroundings and interprets and

analyzes the ever-changing relationship between society and environment

-should be able to study physical features of a region and determine the impact of features on

living organisms, climate, economy, etc.

 

Vocabulary

ecology: The scientific study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms and how

these properties are affected by interactions between organisms and their environment

geodectics (geodesy): The scientific study that deals with measurement and representation of

the Earth, its gravitational field and geodynamic phenomena

geology: The scientific study of the Earth, its physical structure, composition, history and the

processes that shaped it

**Note: Do not confuse geography and geology.  Geology focuses on the physical aspects of

Earth.  Geography looks into depth on the features of the Earth and the impacts of the

features on humans

 

 

How to Become a Professional Geoscientist

Aim: to be certified as a Professional Geoscientist by the APEGBC

1)

1.  Receive a high school diploma (You may wish to take Geography and what are considered

 

art or humanities courses such as History & World Cultures during your secondary school

 

career)

2)

 

2.  Enter and take the four-year Bachelor of Science major program at a university with the

 

appropriate electives to fulfill APEGBC requirements

 

                                                          -----or-----

 

After obtaining a B.Sc. Degree, take the combined Geography and Geology Honours Program

 

3.  Register as a Geologist-in-Training (G.I.T.)

)

 

4.  If graduation is under the Physical Geography program, one may choose to enroll under

 

Environmental Geoscience

5)

 

5.  Gather at least 48 hours months of experience under oversight of a registered Professional

 

Geoscientist (P.Geo.)

6)

 

6.  Submit a file of papers recording experiences to APEGBC

 

7.  If dossier is accepted, you may write the Professional Practice Exam

8)

 

8.  Upon successful completion of exam, you become a P.Geo.

 

Source: http://www.geog.bc.ca/undergraduate/advising.html#pgo

 

 

 

~Cartographers

 

-need to be able to understand and create systems of abstract symbols which will represent

 

certain features on Earth

 

-need to understand geodectics

 

-must learn considerably difficult mathematics in order to understand how "flattening" the

 

earth onto a surface for better viewing can lead to distortion of features on maps

 

 

 

Job Opportunities

 

-Can work for government agencies of all levels

 

-May be employed in the private sector by engineering or environmental firms

 

 

 

Methodology

 

Tools of a Geographer:

 

-Maps (Below: Example of a World Map)

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Computer-based Geographic Information Systems` (GIS)

 

     -stores data about Earth so that it can be retrieved and appropriately

 

      presented quickly

 

     -GIS has drastically changed Cartography:  most maps made nowadays are made with

 

     the help of the GIS.  It is an easy and accessible way to obtain needed information

 

 

++GIS specialists must understand computer sciences and database systems.  Sometimes

 

cartographers work with Computer-aided Design (CAD) or other specialized map-making

 

software. (Below: GIS image)

 

 

 

 

 

Approaches to Studying Geography:

 

1) Systematic - classifies geographical knowledge into groups that can be

 

   explored globally.

 

2) Regional - analyzes systematic relationships between groups for a

 

    specific region on Earth

 

3) Descriptive - determines the locations of specific physical features and the

 

    population of locations

 

4) Analytical - explores why features and populations are in a certain geographic

 

    region

 

 

 

How does Geography Relate to Culture?

 

-There is a branch of geography devoted to it--Cultural Geography under the Human

 

Geography branch

 

-Cultural Geography: the study of impact of human culture on the environment

 

-Culture is a people's way of life.  How people meet their needs is part of their culture.  How a

 

group of people decide to use the available resources in a region to meet their needs is one

 

way in which culture connects with geography.

 

-Depending on a people's surroundings, distinct aspects of religion can develop (i.e. The Incas

 

received sunlight and recognized its importance so worshipped their Sun God, Intip Raimi,

 

aka Inti)

 

-Sometimes the geography of an area will be changed to erect structures of religious

 

importance (e.g. in Greece, the Temple of Athena Nike, a great temple dedicated to, as its

 

name suggests, the worship of the wisdom and war goddess Athene.) (Below: the Temple

 

mentioned above)

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Some people associate certain regions with specific cultures.  Why is that?  Cultural

 

Geography answers that question.  Maybe it is because a group of people left behind them

 

many artifacts in that one location.  Cultural geographers will then look at why this type of

 

artifact is so numerous in this area.  (e.g.  They may find many pots in this one area where

 

there used to be a stream.  One can predict that pots were left there after the stream dried

 

out.  The stream relates to geography because it is a physical feature of the Earth)

 

 

 

 

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