Dahomey (Benin)

Dahomey was a powerful kingdom located in what is now southern Benin, West Africa, from about the 17th to the late 19th century. Known for its military strength and organized society, it became famous for its skilled female warriors called the Amazons. The kingdom engaged in trade, including the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and had a centralized government led by a king. In 1975, Dahomey was renamed Benin, and it became a republic. Today, the legacy includes rich cultural traditions, historical sites, and a history of resistance against colonialism.