Answer:
C. the highest class of social rank
Step-by-step explanation:
City-state is related to an independent place, a city that has its own government, that is, self-governing (maintains its own laws and rulers). As city states grew and developed, so did a social class of great influence and power. This class had as members those who had great economic value, in other words, those who were part of the upper class of society.
As city states grew, so did new government institutions and new responsibilities that had to be led by someone for the nation to function properly. These responsibilities may be taxes and military force, for example. Since the members of the upper class were so influential, it was common for such matters to be their responsibility.