Human civilizations tend to possess similar characteristics even across religious, linguistic, spatial barriers. Civilizations such as Harappa and Sumer may appear to be completely different, and there are many reasons why they were. However, similar traits can be observed through artifacts found at these ancient sites, one of which is a social hierarchy. In general, a polarized social hierarchy develops due to power dynamics from a ruling class legitimized by another social factor. In the case of the Harappans, their social hierarchy was much less polarized than ancient Sumers and was legitimized through the economy rather than a ruling class.
Archaeologists studying Harappan civilization in the Indus river valley have uncovered many artifacts which, I believe, show society to be a hierarchy. Some artifacts were identified as jewelry or luxury goods which were likely used by an upper class “to demonstrate their wealth and status” (Kenoyer). A society without a hierarchy implies there is little to no social stratification among the people and everyone has similar opportunities. If these luxury goods and jewels were used to demonstrate status and wealth then there must have been a disparity in wealth. Interestingly, children, commoners, or both, were found to be wearing terra-cotta items whereas members of the upper class wore exotic stones (Kenoyer). If there weren’t a disparity then demonstrating their wealth would be pointless because everyone would have had the same jewelry. However, commoners and the upper class did not have the same jewelry, likely due to a disparity in wealth. Where there are wealth disparities, there are social disparities. After some time, I believe social classes based on wealth gaps evolved in Harappan society forming a hierarchy.
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