The main economic basis of the empire of mali was derived from the agricultural production of the rural areas. however, the main economic activity that has been preserved in the record is of gold production. what accounts for this disparity?

a. the agricultural production in mali went through periods of boom and bust and couldn't be counted on for consistent economic growth.
b. the focus of outsiders, many of whom contributed heavily to writing the history of mali, was understandably the gold trade.
c. the emphasis on the gold trade was something that other african kingdoms used to motivate their soldiers for war with mali.
d. the agricultural production in mali suffered during the height of the empire because of increased desertification in the area.