Final answer:
The development of trade in Ghana was primarily fueled by two key resources: gold and salt. These commodities were vital for sustaining the wealth and economic power of Ghana and other West African empires that followed, integrating the region into a larger global trading network.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two resources that were pivotal in the development of trade in Ghana were gold and salt.
Gold was one of the major commodities that made the kingdom of Ghana affluent. Its abundance in the region attracted traders from afar. Salt, on the other hand, was invaluable for food preservation and as a dietary supplement, creating a high demand for it. These two resources were essential in trade for Ghana and the broader West African region, with trade routes extending across the Sahara, connecting West Africa to Europe, the Near East, and beyond. The Mali and later Songhai Empires also benefited from gold and salt trade, with cities such as Timbuktu and Gao becoming key centers of commerce. Taxes on these trade commodities enriched the empires and bolstered their economic power. Moreover, the trade of gold and salt was not limited to these items alone, as other commodities like ivory, copper, and slaves were also traded, further enhancing the wealth of these African empires.