The fate of italy in the sixteenth century revealed that select one: a. small political units could not survive against larger, more centralized powers. b. cleverness and self-reliance could allow sturdy citizen republics to play large powers off against each other successfully. c. leadership in culture and the arts would ensure political independence. d. the papacy was a good focus of leadership for those wishing for italian unity. e. small states could resist the larger monarchies.