When human societies first began to support an elite governmental class, what was that classes' function? Protection and order? Organising war and trade? Religion and propitiation? Something else?
To my mind the beginnings of government seem like they would have sprung up initially in a similar vein to the way mafia organisations arise in society. Basically as a protection/extortion racquet whereby those with a proclivity toward bellicosity look to take advantage of the meek. Or is this too uncharitable of a picture to paint of the history of society's ruling elites?
I could probably answer your question but first, I want to ask you if you want a more nomad/sedentary or strictly sedentary? These answers can be very different depending of what you want to know.