Empires and the acceleration of wealth inequality in the pre-Islamic Near East: an archaeological approach

Abstract We present an approach comparing wealth inequality between c. 3000 BCE and 224 CE in the Near East using house sizes urban area from 1060 houses 98 archaeological sites. divide this dataset into two chronological phases, firstly 3000-800 secondly 800 - CE. The first phase is characterised by small, relatively weak states, while second major empires large termed as Age of Empire (AoE). For these periods, measured size relation to settlement scaling, applying, addition, Gini Atkinson indices on sizes. Results demonstrate that pre-AoE have a lower scaling metric (β) measures relative site (0.24), for AoE value higher (0.41). This indicates more rapid median expansion during cities grew larger. pre-AoE, result 0.45 0.16, respectively, demonstrates 0.54 0.24 same measures, respectively. greater AoE. Overall, we see not only AoE, but increased has likely power law relationship area. Alternative metrics minimise data biases affecting results, including bootstrap sampling, are applied strengthen results overall conclusions.