What characteristic did the ruling class of the italian city-states and tokugawa japan have in common?

Dominant clans ruled. Basically both societies used the "Godfather" system in forms suited to their time and culture. Strong emphasis on clan, bloodline, obedience, social class divisions and racism in the sense of what we would now call nationality (nation states were just beginning to emerge and the concept of 'citizen' was fuzzy and evolving).

It is still true that for obvious reason the Japanese still equate nationality with race but while that's interesting, it's not what the question is looking for.

Hope this helps! have a blessed day <3

peasants’ war, (1524–25) peasant uprising in germany inspired by changes brought by the reformation, peasants in western and southern germany invoked   divine law to demand agrarian rights and freedom from oppression by nobles and landlords. as the uprising spread, some peasant groups organized armies. although the revolt was supported huldrych zwingli and thomas müntzerits condemnation by martain luther contributed to its defeat, principally by the army of the swabian league. some 100,000 peasants were killed. reprisals and increased restrictions discouraged further attempts to improve the peasants’ plight.

i think it would be " a" i might be wrong tho