Which idea from the text is best supported by details in
the passage?
"Modern British life and culture now have a strong
African component."
Many wild theories were put forward. It was thought that
the plaques must have come from ancient Egypt, or
perhaps that the people of Benin were one of the lost
tribes of Israel. Or the sculptures must have derived from
European influence (after all, these were the
contemporaries of Michelangelo, Donatello and Cellini).
But research quickly established that the Benin plaques
were entirely West African creations, made without
European influence. The Europeans had to revisit, and to
overhaul, their assumptions of easy cultural superiority.
-A History of the World in 100 Objects,
Neil MacGregor
O "All European visitors were struck by the Oba's
position as both the spiritual and the secular head
of the kingdom..."
"This plaque is dominated by the majestic figure of
the Oba himself."
"[The plaques] changed European understanding of
African history and African culture."