Mohenjo-daro grew more equal as it prospered 4,000 years ago

A 4,000-year-old city in the Indus Valley grew more equal as it became larger and more productive, according to a study published in the journal Antiquity on July 30, 2026. Researchers from the University of York found that Mohenjo-daro defied the common historical pattern of rising inequality with urbanization.

The study, led by Dr. Adam Green from the University of York's Department of Archaeology and Department of Environment and Geography, examined house sizes across the ancient city. The analysis revealed that the gap between the largest and smallest homes narrowed over time, indicating that wealth became more evenly distributed as Mohenjo-daro matured.

This finding challenges the traditional model in which kings, priests, and powerful leaders accumulate wealth as small farming settlements develop into cities. Instead, Mohenjo-daro appears to have been more equal than comparable societies in Mesopotamia and Greece, where dramatic differences between wealthy and ordinary households were common.

Dr. Green stated that legacy data shows the wealth gap in the city's later years dropped to levels typical of the first farming villages. He contrasted Mohenjo-daro with ancient Egypt and Greece, noting that while Egyptians built pyramids for god-kings and Greeks constructed massive palaces at Knossos, the Indus people focused on sophisticated brick-lined drains and organized street layouts.

The city invested in practical infrastructure that benefited the wider population, such as carefully planned streets and advanced drainage systems. Archaeologists also find Indus seals—important tools for trade—inside ordinary homes rather than concentrated in public buildings, and no known palaces have been discovered, suggesting that wealth and authority were not monopolized by a single ruler.

A standardized system of weights and measures used throughout the region may have supported fairer trade. The researchers argue that Mohenjo-daro demonstrates how a technologically advanced society could distribute prosperity broadly, and Dr. Green noted that the period of lowest inequality coincided with rising productivity, offering a lesson for modern societies about sharing resources and power equitably.