 Historiography of the kingdom has had a significant impact on work far beyond African history and the history of the kingdom forms the backdrop for a number of novels and plays.Prior to the centralization of the kingdom of Dahomey, the evidence suggests that the Abomey plateau was settled by a number of small tribes, commonly known as the Gedevi.However, because of a lack of resources and access to the key trade routes in the region, the plateau was very poor compared to the surrounding areas.