State Formation in The Indus Valley

Abstract

Indus valley civilization is unique in its nature among other ancient civilizations of the world. The theories and models have been applied to understand the insights of cultural development about the urban phase 2600-1900 BCE, for which two contradictory models have been proposed (a) scholars who believed in a sudden boom or rapid growth of the urban centers (Possehl 1990, Durrani and Erdosy 1995), and (b) those who argue for a gradual growth leading up to the foundation of Harappan cities (Kenoyer 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1997; Muhgal 1970, 1990, 1991). This debate centers on important changes in settlement organization and sociopolitical development occurred around 4000-2600 BCE. According to the agreeable chronological scheme; the Regionalization Era has been picked for closer examination, this era has been divided further into three parts: (a) Early Regionalization Era 4500-330 (b) Middle Regionalization Era 3300-2800 and (c) Late Regionalization Era 2800-2600. In this scheme the Late Regionalization Era fits in present debate.  It is characterized by the development of multi-tiered settlement pattern and inter–regional trade networks that may resulted to a more complex sociopolitical system like state formation in the Indus Valley Civilization.