Final answer:
Italy was made up of several city-states located on the Italian peninsula.
(option c)
Step-by-step explanation:
Italy was a mosaic of various city-states prior to its unification in the 19th century. These city-states were important trade and cultural centers but eventually fell under foreign control until the rise of Italian nationalism led to the country's unification.
Prior to unification in the 19th century, Italy was a patchwork of territorial entities that included foreign-ruled regions, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Papal States, and numerous independent city-states and regions with constantly shifting boundaries. The desire for independence and the ideals of nationalism eventually led to the unification of these separate entities into the modern nation of Italy.
Throughout its pre-unification history, Italy's city-states played a critical role in its political organization. Notable examples were the maritime republics such as Venice and Genoa, and centers of commerce and Renaissance culture such as Florence. These city-states were prominent hubs of trade, culture, and political power within the Italian peninsula.
The Italian Wars saw the decline of these city-states' independence as major European powers like Spain, France, and Austria vied for control, eventually leading to Italy being largely dominated by foreign powers, particularly Austria and the Bourbon monarchy in the south, until the Risorgimento, Italy's unification movement in the 19th century.