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In addition to gold and salt, what two other types of goods were regularly exported from Africa?

a) Spices and silk
b) Ivory and slaves
c) Timber and iles
d) Gemstones and ceramics

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Two other key exports from Africa in addition to gold and salt were ivory and slaves. These were part of extensive trade networks managed by empires like Mali and Songhai, with ivory used in arts and slaves being a significant, albeit tragic, trade component.

Step-by-step explanation:

In addition to gold and salt, the two other types of goods regularly exported from Africa were ivory and slaves. The empires dominating the trade, such as the medieval West African empires, were renowned for trading these two principal goods alongside others. Cities like Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenné were focal points of this trade, dealing not only in gold and salt, which were highly valued for both luxury and preservation purposes, but also in lucrative goods such as ivory and human captives. Ivory was sought after for its use in art and architecture, while slaves represented an unfortunate but significant part of the historical trade networks.

Other items like hides, jewels, kola nuts, and certain luxury imports, including horses and cloth, also played a role in the complex trade systems of Mali and other African empires like Songhai. These goods contributed to the wealth and power accrued by these empires, with gold being a prime commodity transported along the trans-Saharan trade routes, extending the influence of Africa's trade far beyond its borders.

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