The Kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria had an 11-mile wall system surrounding its capital, which was ruled by the Oba of Benin. The walls were the largest earthwork project before the mechanical age but were destroyed during the Benin Expedition of 1897 by the British Empire. The walls covered an area of 2,500 square […]

The Kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria had an 11-mile wall system surrounding its capital and spanning its kingdom, requiring 10,000 million man-hours to build. The walls covered an area of 2,500 square miles and were considered the largest earthwork project before the mechanical age. The city was destroyed in 1897 by the British Empire. […]