Final answer:
Ivory was the trade item produced in the Swahili city-states, which were key players in the Indian Ocean trade, exchanging local resources for goods from Asia and participating in the slave trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The trade item that was produced in the Swahili city-states and is mentioned within the historical context provided is ivory. These city-states, located along the east coast of Africa in modern-day Tanzania and Kenya, prospered significantly through trade, utilizing the monsoon winds to interact with merchants from Arabia, Persia, and India. The Swahili traders exchanged locally sourced goods, including gold, iron, copper, salt, valuable hardwoods, tortoise shells, animal hides, and ivory, for goods from Asia such as cotton, glass, jewelry, and other luxury items. Additionally, enslaved Africans were traded in these bustling hubs of commerce.