Despotic Rule Replaced Republican Governments in the Italian City-State for Which

Multiple Choice

Despotic rule replaced republican governments in the Italian city-state for which of the following reasons?

A) Class warfare between rich merchants and aristocrats led each side to seek one-man rule.
B) Republican governments were short-term and unable to handle famines, plagues, and economic disasters.
C) City-states came to rely on mercenary armies in their wars with fellow city-states.
D) Mercenary leaders were willing to seize power.
E) all of the above ​