Read the following passage and then answer the question. The Greek Renaissance of the eighth century BCE marks a time of great development, including the rise of the polis, or city-state. Trade routes flourished, and an increase in population and production led to the formation of a wealthy upper class. These changes led to the replacement of typical chiefdoms with poleis. Each polis consisted of people who lived in the same area in or near an urban area. Each polis had walls that protected it from invaders, stratified social classes, and public buildings. Most poleis were governed by a king. Athens, however, was governed as a democracy for a time. Despite their common tongue, the poleis could be bitter rivals, as was the case with warlike Sparta and aristocratic Athens. The poleis held power from 800 BCE to 500 BCE. What parallel can be drawn between the poleis of ancient Greece and the city-states of ancient Mesopotamia? A. They were ruled by one powerful individual. B. They were generally cooperative with their neighbors. C. They arose at about the same time in history. D. They used democracy as a form of government.
