Sub-Saharan Africa: Difference between revisions

In the forest zone, several states and empires such as [[Bono state|Bono State]], [[Akwamu]] and others emerged. The [[Ashanti Empire]] arose in the 18th century in modern-day [[Ghana]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Meyerowitz|first=Eva L. R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F3lyAAAAMAAJ|title=The Early History of the Akan States of Ghana|date=1975|publisher=Red Candle Press|isbn=9780608390352|language=en}}</ref> The [[Kingdom of Nri]], was established by the [[Igbo people|Igbo]] in the 11th century. Nri was famous for having a priest-king who wielded no military power. Nri was a rare African state which was a haven for freed slaves and outcasts who sought refuge in their territory. Other major states included the kingdoms of [[Ife|Ifẹ]] and [[Oyo Empire|Oyo]] in the western block of Nigeria which became prominent about 700–900 and 1400 respectively, and center of [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] culture. The Yoruba's built massive mud walls around their cities, the most famous being [[Sungbo's Eredo]]. Another prominent kingdom in southwestern Nigeria was the [[Kingdom of Benin]], whose power lasted between the 15th and 19th century. Their dominance reached as far as the well-known city of Eko which was named [[Lagos]] by the Portuguese traders and other early European settlers. The [[Kingdom of Benin|Edo]]-speaking people of Benin are known for their famous bronze casting and rich coral, wealth, ancient science and technology and the [[Walls of Benin]], which is the largest man-made structure in the world.