The rise of the merchant class and the growth of towns and cities as a result of trade occurred due to the deterioration of which political system?

Explanation:

Feudalism was a predominant political system during Middle Age. It's characterised by decentralisation, a pyramidal system were applied, having Kings,Queens or Emperors on the top. This system used nobles to rule, like Dukes and Marquises. During this period, all the ''progress' was designated to nobles and the Crown, but poor people never benefited about it, even merchants had their struggles due to high taxes they had to pay to the Crown.

i believe the answer would be 1.

soviet influence spread across eastern europe sharply during and after wwii. the soviet armies liberated the countries in eastern europe and occupied them from the germans as they were forced to retreat towards germany.