Question

What position did the kingdom of Dahomey take regarding the slave trade with Europe, and how and why did it change?

(a) Dahomey actively participated in the slave trade, but eventually abolished it due to pressure from European powers.
(b) Dahomey initially opposed the slave trade, but eventually participated in it to gain access to European goods.
(c) Dahomey never participated in the slave trade, but was instead a major supplier of goods to European traders.
(d) Dahomey was a major victim of the slave trade, and its population was decimated by the capture and sale of its people.

Answer 1

The kingdom of Dahomey initially opposed the slave trade but eventually participated in it to gain access to European goods. Kings of Dahomey used profits from the slave trade to acquire guns and expand their kingdom through conquest.

Step-by-step explanation:

The kingdom of Dahomey initially opposed the slave trade but eventually participated in it to gain access to European goods. In the 1720s, Dahomey was established and built its wealth by engaging in the slave trade. The kings of Dahomey used profits from the slave trade to acquire guns, which they used to expand their kingdom through conquest and incorporation of smaller kingdoms. The majority of slaves acquired by Dahomey were obtained through trade with the interior of Africa or by raids into Nigeria.