Final answer:
The government has historically been more centralized and managed by bureaucrats and scholars, as seen in the Persian Empire under Darius I, in ancient China's Zhou dynasty, and in Mesopotamia's transition from priestly to secular rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The government in historical contexts has often been more centralized and managed by c) Bureaucrats and scholars. For example, after Darius I's reorganization of the Persian Empire, he controlled the governing regions through satraps, who can be thought of as bureaucrats. In ancient China, especially during the reigns of dynasties like the Zhou, a bureaucratic system took root wherein officials were appointed based on merit rather than inheritance, fundamentally transforming governance from a feudal to a bureaucratic state. Similarly, in Mesopotamia, power transitioned from religious priests to secular governors and eventually to lugals, who held both religious and civil authority and could be seen as early bureaucrats managing state affairs.