Final answer:
Gold and salt were the two critical resources that spurred the development of trade in the Ghana Empire, leading to its significant wealth and cultural influence across West Africa and beyond.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two important resources that were instrumental in the development of trade in Ghana were gold and salt. These commodities became the backbone of trans-Saharan commerce and the wealth of empires such as Ghana and Mali. Gold was one of the most coveted resources, abundant in the region and sought after by merchants and rulers across the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Salt, on the other hand, was essential for preserving food and maintaining the health of populations, making it nearly as valuable as gold. The trade in these resources not only shaped the regional economies but also connected West Africa with broader global networks of exchange.
Cities like Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenné flourished as centers of this trade, and the empires used their control of gold and salt to amass significant power and influence. The Mali Empire, for instance, benefited from taxes on these trades and established a strong and centralized empire with an extensive trade network.