evidence: The Kingdom of Benin,[2] also known as Great Benin or Benin Kingdom is a kingdom within what is now southern Nigeria.[3] It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin,[4] which was known as Dahomey from the 17th century until 1975. The Kingdom of Benin's capital was Edo, now known as Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria. The Benin Kingdom was "one of the oldest and most developed states in the coastal hinterland of West Africa". It grew out of the previous Edo Kingdom of Igodomigodo around the 11th century AD,[5] and lasted until it was annexed by the British Empire in 1897.[6] [...] Prehistory [edit]By the 1st century BC, the Benin territory was partially agricultural; and it became primarily agricultural by around 500 AD, but hunting and gathering still remained important. Also by 500, iron was in use by the inhabitants of the Benin territory.[7] [...] - ^ Koutonin, Mawuna (18 March 2016). "Story of cities #5: Benin City, the mighty medieval capital now lost without trace". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2018.