The claim about the Walls of Benin (also known as the Benin Moat) being the world's largest man-made structure is partially accurate.
The Walls of Benin were indeed an impressive ancient structure in what is now Nigeria. They were a series of massive earthworks encircling Benin City in present-day Edo State[12]. Construction began around 800 AD and continued until 1460 AD[12].
According to traditional sources, these earthworks:
- Spanned approximately 16,000 kilometers (9,900 miles)[1][12]
- Enclosed about 6,500 square kilometers (2,500 square miles) of land[1][12]
- Were considered the largest man-made structure lengthwise and the largest earthwork in the world[1]
- Were four times longer than the Great Wall of China and consumed a hundred times more material than the Great Pyramid of Cheops[1]
In 1974, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized the Walls of Benin as the world's second-largest man-made structure by length, after China's Great Wall[4][12].
Regarding their destruction, the British did indeed destroy much of the structure during the Punitive Expedition of 1897. British forces captured, burned, and looted Benin City, bringing an end to the West African Kingdom of Benin[10]. The British expedition heavily damaged the Benin Moat[12], and the city was looted and burnt to the ground[10].
Today, very little of this once-massive structure remains, with urbanization and land disputes posing challenges to preserving what's left[12].
Currently, the world's tallest human-made structure is the 828-meter-tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE[5][11].
Sources
[1] The Walls of Benin City was the world's largest man-made earth ... EMCA | The Walls of Benin City was the world’s largest man-made earth structure.
[2] Benin Expedition of 1897 - Wikipedia Benin Expedition of 1897 - Wikipedia
[3] The British raid on Benin 1897 | National Museums Scotland The British raid on Benin 1897 | National Museums Scotland
[4] The Ancient Benin Wall: Unraveling the Marvel of Benin Kingdom TikTok - Make Your Day
[5] List of tallest buildings and structures - Wikipedia List of tallest buildings and structures - Wikipedia
[6] Benin Bronzes | British Museum https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection/benin-bronzes
[7] The Walls of Benin: Safeguarding the World's Cultural and Natural ... The Walls of Benin: Safeguarding the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage
[8] Have you ever heard of the Ancient Wall of Benin? Long ... - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blueprintafric247/reel/DGNTFUPOcQC/
[9] Top 10 Biggest Man-Made Structures to See Before You Die Top 10 Biggest Man-Made Structures to See Before You Die | Articles on WatchMojo.com
[10] Benin City: the Majestic City the British burnt to the ground Benin City: the Majestic City the British burnt to the ground – African Heritage
[11] Tallest man-made structure on land | Guinness World Records Tallest man-made structure on land | Guinness World Records
[12] Benin Moat - Wikipedia Benin Moat - Wikipedia