Which civilization is characterized by a unified culture of luxury and refinement without a known national government?

The Indus Valley civilization is recognized for its advanced and sophisticated urban culture, which included remarkable achievements in architecture, water management, and trade. This civilization, which flourished around 2500 BCE in what is now Pakistan and northwest India, showcased a high level of craftsmanship, evident in their pottery, jewelry, and the layout of their cities.

What sets the Indus Valley apart is its lack of a centralized, identifiable national government. Instead, evidence suggests a more decentralized form of governance, where city-states operated under a unified cultural framework but without the direct oversight of a single ruling body like those seen in ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia. This resulted in a society that shared common cultural traits, such as writing and religious practices, but did not conform to a single political unity, allowing for regional variations while maintaining overarching cultural similarities.

This characteristic helps to underscore the uniqueness of the Indus Valley civilization in comparison to the more centralized states found in the other civilizations mentioned. For instance, Egypt was known for its pharaohs who ruled a unified state, and Mesopotamia featured city-states often under the influence of a central king or empire. Similarly, ancient China had defined dynasties and a strong national identity. In contrast, the