Final answer:
The development of complex societies was driven by technological advancements, agricultural development, and specialization of labor. These facilitated a sedentary lifestyle, resulting in stable populations capable of creating hierarchies, governments, and monumental architecture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prime movers that led to the development of complex societies can be categorized under several factors: technological advancement, the development of agriculture, social stratification, the establishment of governments and writing systems, and the creation of specialized labor roles. According to anthropologist Lewis Henry Morgan, technology was a primary driver, with the improvement in the creation of tools and methods markedly influencing societal evolutions. Similarly, the push from nomadic lifestyles to sedentary agricultural communities was pivotal, as it led to the accumulation of food surplus and the establishment of stable populations.
The advent of agriculture is noted as one of the vital transitions for the emergence of complex societies since itfostered the specialization of labor, allowing some people to become artisans, religious leaders, or rulers, creating hierarchal social structures. The construction of large-scale architecture and the ability to maintain sedentary lifestyles were also facilitated by a consistent food supply.
Environmental factors such as an abundant supply of resources, particularly in areas like the Pacific Northwest, allowed for wealth accumulation, which played a significant part in differentiating social statuses within these communities. Over time, increasing population growth and the need for more robust social order led to the emergence of more structured forms of government, displacing more traditional small-scale forms of conflict resolution and community decision-making.