Link: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-year-city-defied-history-equal.html

The findings, published in the journal Antiquity, challenge the modern assumption that rising inequality is an unavoidable side effect of economic growth. Mohenjo-daro, the researchers say, stands as proof that a society can be technologically advanced and highly productive while also ensuring its prosperity is shared by the many, rather than the few.

Dr. Green said, "Mohenjo-daro is often cited as being famous for what it doesn't have, such as the absence of palaces for kings, gold-filled tombs, and no statues of rulers. But what it does have is so important.”

“In the period when inequality appears to be lowest, productivity appears to rise. It challenges the idea that prosperity requires us to concentrate decision-making powers in the hands of the few.”

"It is quite an interesting lesson for modern societies, as the Indus civilization demonstrates clearly that an urban society can be highly productive and inventive at scale, while also ensuring that resources and power are shared equitably. In fact, doing so may even have been essential to sustaining prosperity over the centuries."

A notable aspect of Mohenjo-daro that I believe partly accounts for this is the lack of significant military threat. Mohenjo-daro, like Harappa, likely derived much of its wealth from long distance trade and was placed in a highly defensible position. There are remarkably few weapons found at the site, indicating that it most likely never had to develop a significantly powerful military/police class that could be used to enforce wealth desparity.

Super interesting site and culture that I wish we knew more about, maybe one day we will finally crack their writing system and get some more info. It's important to keep in context how these cultures form and what pressures inform their structure. Hierarchy came about for a reason, it served a specific purpose that was lacking in Mohenjo-daro.

Add it to the pile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dawn_of_Everything

All these things you say sound very interesting, and it's like you already know plenty about it. Could you share a relevant link?

I don't know a ton about this site specifically but my historical focus is generally on the political structure of early settled cultures so I am able to discuss it somewhat competently.

I swear I knew of a youtube video that covered this really well but I can't find it. I read similar details in a textbook called World History: Cultures, States, and Societies to 1500 (ISBN: 978-1-940771-10-6).

I'm gonna keep looking for that video but if you have access to JSTOR I can send you some links from there too.

Edit: This could be it

Love History with Cy!

Thank you so much! I will check out the video as soon as I can and looking forward to it. The textbook you suggested has a free digital version. I went through its table of contents and took a look at the section about Israelites. Admitedly, I found it highly problematic. Of course this doesn't say much about the rest of it, don't get me wrong, and I will totally check it out.

So btw I thought of adding here an article that clarified for me the politics of biblical scholarship. The writer is not a historian, but the text has many gems as references.

It's an american university textbook for a 100 level course. Its section on the Israelites was bound to be mythology lol. It wasn't a very good textbook in other regards but I thought it may have been where I read some of the details