?Throughout history trade and exploration have had a significant impact on the arts throughout the world, and African art is no exception. The Kingdom Empire, also referred to as the Edo Empire, developed an advanced artistic culture that was greatly influenced by the arrival of the Portuguese missionaries and traders in the 15th century. Due to the strength of the Benin military the European visitors were not able to enslave the people of Benin as they had in other parts of Africa. So instead the Benin and Portuguese developed a trade system. As trade between the two grew the cultural influence became apparent on the artworks of the Benin Empire. The Portuguese explorers arrived in the last years of the control of Oba Ewuare the Great, around 1472, trying to demand slaves from the empire. Because Benin had such a strong military and developed economy, the Portuguese were unable to enslave them as they had with the other African empires such as Ouidah and Calabar. This resulted in the development of a strong trading partnership between The Benin Empire and European countries. The Portuguese would trade items such as coral beads, brass bracelets they called manillas, muskets and cannons for the Edo peoples spices, textiles and artworks. The trading would continue from 1468 up until late 19th century when the kingdom was attacked and defeated by British military in the Punitive Expedition of 1897. (Plankenstenier, Barbara 77) The works produced by the Benin Empire at this time included religious objects, masks, figurines, plagues among other artifacts. These artists worked in bronze, brass, iron, clay, ivory and wood but were most famous for their bronze, iron and ivory works. For the most part the works of art were created for the court of Oba (king) of Benin. The artifacts promoted the Benin religion and beliefs as well as told stories of their ancestors and their achievements. It is said that Oba Esigie was the first to commission bronze plagues to record Benin’s history and achievements at the time that trade with the Portuguese was booming. Artist would take the brass manilas melt them down and recast them into the Benin Bronzes that were displayed in the courtyard of the palace. As trade expanded these brass plagues began to incorporate European imagery and designs as well as narrated the relationship the Benin had with the Portuguese at the time. (Plankenstenier, Barbara 77) Benin’s fortune came to an end with the rise of imperialism in the 19th century. Five years after the Empire had signed a treaty with Great Britain, Benin forces made the mistake of killing members of a British delegation that was en route to the Benin City. In response to the betrayal, Britain launched the Punitive Expedition to the capital. The British removed 4,000 works from the palace in the attack and sold them to private collectors and museums in Europe and the United States. (Plankenstenier, Barbara 77) The cultural influence of the