Final answer:
The Indus Valley civilization lacked a centralized state, and archaeological finds suggest a structure of independent city-states with uniform urban planning and cooperative cultural norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unlike its Middle Eastern counterparts, the Indus Valley civilization apparently had no centralized state. Archaeological evidence suggests that the political organization of the Indus Valley may have involved a collection of independent city-states or a configuration with a few large cities functioning as regional capitals. The uniformity in urban planning across the various cities, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, with their sophisticated drainage systems, well-laid-out streets, and advanced public structures like the Great Bath, indicate a level of cooperation and shared cultural norms without evidence of centralized monarchical authority. Moreover, there are few if any traces of elaborate graves or monuments that would signify a stratified society ruled by a distinct warrior or noble class.