A civilization is a group of people who live together in order to achieve certain goals. This can include social, economic and religious cooperation. Civilizations can also develop a variety of cultural traits. These can include literature, art and religion. In some cases, civilizations can even produce advanced technology. These technologies can help the population to live better lives and can improve the quality of life for many people. Civilizations can also develop a number of different types of government, depending on the type of environment they live in.
The development of civilization is often credited to the discovery of agriculture. This allowed humans to grow crops year-round and provide a stable food supply for the people living in the area. This provided the ability to settle in one place rather than constantly moving, which helped to bring people together into large groups and lead to cities, states and kingdoms. It is possible that this development also encouraged more specialized jobs, as some people grew the crops and others focused on hunting and gathering or on creating clothing or tools.
During this time, many of the early civilizations were unified by religion. It was common for the leaders of a country to also act as the religious leader. In ancient Egypt, for example, the pharaohs claimed to be representatives or even human incarnations of the gods.
In general, the earliest civilizations developed near fresh water sources as hunters and gatherers tend to gravitate toward those locations. They also developed a division of labor, with skilled workers and soldiers living alongside the farmers who provided them with the basic necessities. In addition, these early civilizations usually had a system for keeping records.
Writing was one of the most important developments in the early civilizations. It made it possible for rulers, priests and transporters (financial specialists) to keep detailed accounts. In addition, these new civilizations often grew their populations through the production of crops and by allowing them to trade for goods from other areas.
While there is no definitive answer to the question of what caused civilizations to form, scholars from a variety of disciplines have long searched for the roots of this phenomenon. Two broad theories have emerged: the first focuses on trade, healthcare and irrigation systems while the second is centered around conflict.
A third theory suggests that the cause of civilizations is actually a combination of all three of these factors. However, it is difficult to find the exact reason for civilizations to form as they are typically a result of many different environmental and cultural factors that combine to create a unique situation for each.
A well-known author, Jared Diamond, has suggested that civilizations collapse because of a combination of several factors. These can include environmental damage, such as deforestation and soil erosion; dependence upon long-distance trade for necessary resources; high levels of internal or external violence, such as war; and a culture’s response to these problems.