Final answer:
Early leaders gained power through control of resources, militaristic expansion, and centralization of power into structured governments, establishing systems of tribute, taxation, and social hierarchy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leaders in early civilizations often gained power through a variety of methods, including control of trade routes, forming alliances, military conquests, and the establishment of hereditary leadership. Control of resources was a crucial factor, as leaders who controlled trade or production could distribute wealth to maintain loyalty and reinforce their power. Over time, the institutions of leadership formalized into structured governments with extensive bureaucracies, legal systems, and military forces.
The ability to centralize power was also important, as this led to the formation of states and empires with highly stratified social classes and unequal access to power. Militarism played a key role in the expansion and defense of territory, enabling leaders such as the Aztec kings and the West African chiefdoms to exert coercive power and secure tribute, further solidifying their rule.