Which of the following best accounts for the spread of Islam to the lands of the kingdom of Mali?

(A) Muslim missionaries who came from Southern Africa. (B) Trade contacts who came from the north across the Sahara. (C) Berber armies who conquered the former kingdom of Ghana. (D) Pressure from Christian Ethiopia caused the king of Mali to seek Muslim allies.Explanation: Mali’s position below the Sahara desert meant that it was not easy for outsiders to conquer but because it sat astride the north-south trade routes to the Mediterranean it was definitely frequented by Muslim merchants. Eliminate (A) because the missionaries are coming from the wrong direction. Eliminate (C) because Berber tribes did not conquer Ghana. Eliminate (D) because Ethiopia and Mali were not rivals. Choice (B) is the best answer.