The way I like to think about exponentiation is to start with the number one and keep multiplying it with the base.
Example:
10^2 = ?
Start with the value one and keep multiplying it with the base. Because the exponent is two we will multiply twice.
1
1 * 10 = 10
The new value is 10
10 * 10 = 100
Now we have found our answer. Now lets take an example where this time the exponent is zero.
10^0
Start with the value one. We will multiply zero times because the exponent is zero.
10^0 = 1
Hope this helps!