Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/maya-rulers-attract-subjects-guatemala-tamarindito
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Commoners may have played an unappreciated part in the rise of an ancient Maya royal dynasty.

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Look at how that Mayan Theocracy ended, like all Theocracies, it all goes bad, " When the Gods fail the People ".
I think we are about to see a modern Theocracy fall in our life time, called Iran .

Back on topic ....
Most likely, like all organized Societies, those Mayan Oligarchs probably attracted people through economic encentives like sales of their agricultural goods, tools and other human comforts .
Much like in the US , 88% of Americans live in the US cities and 12 % live in rural America .