Final answer:
State formation in the Middle East and Mesoamerica featured centralized political authority, written legal codes, and hereditary rulers. While the Middle East saw urban-centric, trade-focused states due to resource limitations, Mesoamerica developed militaristic and trade-capable city-states like the Aztec Empire. Therefore, option A correctly identifies the central characteristics of states.
Step-by-step explanation:
State formation in the Middle East and Mesoamerica differed in environment, resources, and cultural practices, although both developed centralized political authority, legal systems, and hereditary rulers. In the Middle East, the emergence of early states such as in Mesopotamia was characterized by urbanization, extensive irrigation systems, trade of agricultural products, and a high level of craft specialization due to the control by a centralized authority. In contrast, Mesoamerican civilizations like the Aztec Empire emerged from increasing centralization in large chiefdoms, with the Aztec state forming from both integrative and conflict pressures that led them to build impressive city-states and develop trade, agriculture, and military might to expand their empire.
The correct answer to the question is A: Centralized political authority, written legal codes, and hereditary rulers. These are the three central characteristics of states based on a comparison of state formation in the Middle East and Mesoamerica. Both regions saw the rise of states that controlled territory, managed internal and external conflicts, and developed social hierarchies marked by elite classes ruling over others.