<P> In the western Sahel , the rise of settled communities was largely the result of domestication of millet and sorghum . Archaeology points to sizeable urban populations in West Africa beginning in the 2nd millennium BCE . Symbiotic trade relations developed before the trans - Saharan trade , in response to the opportunities afforded by north - south diversity in ecosystems across deserts , grasslands , and forests . The agriculturists received salt from the desert nomads . The desert nomads acquired meat and other foods from pastoralists and farmers of the grasslands and from fishermen on the Niger River . The forest dwellers provided furs and meat . </P>
<P> In the western Sahel , the rise of settled communities was largely the result of domestication of millet and sorghum . Archaeology points to sizeable urban populations in West Africa beginning in the 2nd millennium BCE . Symbiotic trade relations developed before the trans - Saharan trade , in response to the opportunities afforded by north - south diversity in ecosystems across deserts , grasslands , and forests . The agriculturists received salt from the desert nomads . The desert nomads acquired meat and other foods from pastoralists and farmers of the grasslands and from fishermen on the Niger River . The forest dwellers provided furs and meat . </P>
what were the two most important commodities traded in early west african civilizations
what were the two most important commodities traded in early west african civilizations
salt meat and other foods
salt meat and other foods