New research from the University of York suggests that the 4,000-year-old city of Mohenjo-daro became more equal as it grew more prosperous, challenging long-held assumptions about the rise of early cities. Historians have often argued that as villages developed into urban centres, wealth and power became concentrated among kings, priests, and ruling elites, widening the gap between rich and poor.

However, a new study examining the archaeology of Mohenjo-daro, the largest city of the Indus Valley Civilization, found evidence of the opposite trend. By analysing house sizes throughout the city, researchers discovered that Mohenjo-daro was more egalitarian than neighbouring societies in Mesopotamia and ancient Greece, and became increasingly equal over time.

Lead author Dr Adam Green said legacy data from the city revealed that the gap between the largest and smallest homes narrowed as the city matured. By its later years, levels of inequality had fallen to those typically associated with early farming villages. Unlike ancient Egypt or Greece, where monumental palaces, pyramids, and elite tombs symbolised concentrated wealth and power, Mohenjo-daro invested in practical infrastructure such as organised streets and sophisticated drainage systems.

Researchers also highlighted the widespread distribution of the civilisation’s famous Indus seals, which were used in trade and administration. Rather than being concentrated in palaces or public buildings, the seals were commonly found in ordinary households, suggesting that economic and administrative tools were broadly shared across society. The absence of royal palaces or statues of rulers further points to a society without a dominant ruling elite.

The study suggests that the city’s inhabitants worked collectively to maintain a relatively equal standard of living. Investments in drainage, street maintenance, and a standardised system of weights and measures reflected a commitment to public welfare and fair exchange. Researchers argue that this collective approach may have helped sustain both productivity and social stability over centuries.

Published in the journal Antiquity, the findings challenge the assumption that economic growth inevitably leads to rising inequality. Dr Green said the Indus civilisation demonstrates that urban societies can remain highly productive, technologically advanced, and innovative while also distributing resources and power more equitably. He added that maintaining lower levels of inequality may even have been essential to sustaining long-term prosperity.

More information: Adam Green et al, Inequality declined in the Bronze Age city of Mohenjo-daro, Antiquity. DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2026.10359

Journal information: Antiquity Provided by University of York