تجارة زيت النخيل ودورها في الحياة الاقتصادية بمملكة الداهومي (1851-1900 م)‎

Abstract EN

The present study aims to shed light on the alternative economic practice to slave trade in the 19th century which was Plame oil trade, taking the Dahomey kingdoom as a model.

this pagan kigdoom which was located in the gulf of Ghinia that was abit isolated from the international developments at the time, the same time when industrial revolution was spreading over Europe.

the continent needed more supplies funding and spreading marchendise when which made it economically depent to the Dahomey kingdom.

the latter sparked a colonizing competition to control pources of oil instead of buying it.

the king Gézo attempted to encourage his people to plant oil palm in 1849.

instead of trading whith war hostages, using them in the fields for labour.

also this kind of trees does not need excesive care, which helped it sprading on a large scale.

bit by bit, this plantation turned from just a treading to living practice in which people could live without in their dialy life.

for exportation, it was done though trading oil for weapons textile, expensive stones and alchohol, or throught selling it to provide money to help the economic grouth of the kingdoom and thus remaining an influenciale power in the area.