ABSTRACT
The king's role in maintaining the strength and integrity of the state was a crucial one. The history of Mali makes it clear that the empire prospered under strong and wise rulers and began to weaken under inept ones. Archaeological studies have uncovered traces of human activity going back several millennia in what is Mali. The oldest human remains were found at Asselar in northern Mali in 1927 by Theodore Monod and others. Neolithic settlements have been documented in diverse areas of the country including Nioro, Gao, Bamako, and Bougouni. The Arab conquest of North Africa eventually brought both Islam and trade across the Sahara to the peoples of what is Mali. Both were to have a major impact in shaping society south of the Sahara. The initial focus of contact for traders from North Africa was the kingdom of Wagadu, situated in what is northwestern Mali.
