The options of the question are A) their own farms. B) their own armies. C) their own churches. D) their own schools.
The correct answer is B) Their own armies.
Merchant families that ruled Italian city-states established their own armies.
In the Renaissance epoch, Italy was formed by many city-states with powerful people as the rulers. For instance, the Medici in Florence, the Sforza in Milan, and the Doge in Venice. As rivals they were, often times they were in conflict with each other. That is why these cities had their own armies to protect their merchant, their political interests and their cultural influence in the region.