The Edo people of the Benin Kingdom, located in present-day Nigeria, come into focus in this fact-packed volume in the Genius of the Ancients series (8 titles). Here readers are met with a light but expansive survey that highlights this West African civilization's accomplishments in such areas as the arts (especially brasswork), agriculture and trade, military prowess, and urban planning, as well as its social hierarchy, forgiveness-based justice system, and religious beliefs. In 13 double-page spreads, the text describes the rise and fall of the Benin Kingdom, transparently stating that most information comes from the British, their eventual conquerors. The varied topics are neatly tied together, while airy layouts with diligently captioned illustrations and fun facts create a friendly reading experience. A refreshing addition to collections on ancient cultures.