The term civilization has several meanings. It can be used to describe the development of a society. V. Gordon Childe defined it as a society with social institutions that complement one another and create a class system based on ownership and control of production. Among these elements are the plow, wheeled cart, draft animals, writing, irrigation ditches, urban centers, and specialized craftsmen. However, many people do not think that all of these things are necessary to build a civilization.
The term civilization has its roots in the French language. The Latin civitas (a town or city) was the basis for the word civilization. In the early 16th century, the term “civilization” was coined, with the addition of the verb civilize, which was already a countable noun. By this time, the word had reached its current use as a noun. In Elias’s sense, the term was an oxymoron.
The definition of civilization is ambiguous, but there are several major schools of thought. Spengler and Arnold J. Toynbee suggested that there are eight mature civilizations, each with its own characteristics and development. Regardless of their age, all civilizations experience the same cycle – the Mommsen cycle. In this cycle, the cultural elite becomes a parasitic elite, thereby ushering in the rise of both the internal and external proletariat.
A civilization is defined in spiritual terms. It is a society where a majority of the population is free from the burden of producing food and engaging in economic activities. These activities are necessary for the survival of a society on a material plane and at the civilizational level. The word ‘civilization’ is a general term, meaning a civilization in any context. This is an important point to keep in mind when using the word ‘civilization’.
The definition of civilization is subjective. Generally, a civilization is defined as a society where the majority of people have free will and are not responsible for production. Nevertheless, there is a significant minority that is obligated to produce food and engage in economic activities. Such a group is called a free minority. The majority of people in a civilization are free from the burden of production and economic activities. They also enjoy the benefits of centralized government and a well-developed economy.
The term civilization has roots in the Latin word civitas, which means ‘citizen’ in French. Besides, civilization is also a term that refers to the development of state-level societies. Its definition does not include nomadic people and settlements that are not state-level. Moreover, it includes a culture and regional traditions that exist in an area. Therefore, a civilization is a complex human society.
A civilization is a complex society. It has unique ideas, customs, manufacturing methods, and arts. Typically, a civilization develops a state-based decision-making apparatus and a developed transportation system. Other indicators of a civilization include a standardized measurement system, art, and mathematics. Furthermore, a civilization’s culture and economy are closely linked to its military strength. In other words, a civilization’s culture is its nation.