Which goods dominated the merchant exchange that supported the growth of the West African trading empires? (1 point)
O iron and metal goods
O gold and salt
O fish and camels
• guns and manufactured goods
O gold and salt
The goods that dominated the merchant exchange and supported the growth of the West African trading empires were gold and salt.
The dominant goods in the merchant exchange that supported the growth of the West African trading empires were gold and salt, which is option B.
To arrive at this answer, we can use our prior knowledge of West Africa's historical trading patterns. The Trans-Saharan trade routes connected North Africa to West Africa, facilitating the exchange of various goods. West Africa was known for its abundant reserves of gold, which attracted traders from the northern regions. The gold was highly valued and sought after by merchants from other parts of the world.
Salt, on the other hand, was a crucial commodity for preserving food and enhancing its flavor. Since West Africa was relatively lacking in natural salt supplies, it had to be imported from the Sahara desert and other regions. This made salt a highly prized item in the West African trading empires.
Therefore, we can confidently conclude that gold and salt were the goods that dominated the merchant exchange and contributed to the growth of the West African trading empires.