In a Populous Market Town Where a Small Number of Merchants

Multiple Choice

In a populous market town where a small number of merchants and landholders have accumulated wealth, extreme stratification arises. What is the most likely explanation for this?

A) Wealth is often the accumulation of fixed assets, not cash.
B) Wealth is often acquired by those who have great skill with money.
C) The absence of legal controls allowed a small subset of the population to control the market.
D) The absence of central banks prevented the redistribution of wealth.