Final answer:
The kingdoms of West Africa, such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, mainly traded in gold and salt, which were critical for their wealth and power. Cities like Timbuktu became trade centers, and these goods linked West Africa to the broader world.
Step-by-step explanation:
The kingdoms of West Africa thrived on the trade of two main goods: gold and salt. These commodities were crucial to the wealth and power of the region, playing a central role in the economies of notable empires such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Gold was valued for its use in currency, ornaments, and jewelry, and became a sought-after resource in the Middle East and Europe. Salt was essential for preserving food and had a value comparable to gold at times, especially because it was scarce in some regions and had to be mined from places like Taghaza in the Sahara Desert.In addition to gold and salt, other goods such as ivory, copper, slaves, textiles, and kola nuts were traded. Powerful empires like the Mali Empire leveraged taxes on these trades to strengthen and maintain their rule. Cities such as Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenné became bustling trade centers where goods from various regions were exchanged.Conclusion The trans-Saharan trade, with its rich exchange of gold and salt, was a crucial component of the medieval empires in West Africa. The prosperity and might of these kingdoms were fundamentally tied to their control over, and trade of, these natural resources. This trading system linked West Africa not only to North Africa but also to the European and Middle Eastern worlds, and significantly impacted the global economy of the time.