A civilization is a complex society that has developed many aspects of culture, including organized religion, art, professional architecture and the development of urban areas. It also has advanced in agriculture and in the production of goods for trade with neighboring societies. These developments are what make it possible for civilization to emerge and sustain itself over time. While historians disagree about the exact reasons for human evolution into civilization, most believe that these advances are necessary for people to survive.
Scholars use different criteria to determine whether a specific culture can be called a civilization. Some consider a civilization when it develops a highly stratified system of leadership, a hierarchy based on wealth and the existence of organized religion. Other scholars consider a civilization when it develops metallurgy, writing and a sophisticated division of labor. These traits are usually not present in prehistoric hunter-gatherer groups.
Most scholars agree that civilization emerged as a result of the need to provide food for growing populations. Civilizations were able to manage the complex tasks involved in organizing large-scale agricultural societies, like providing public goods such as health services, irrigation systems and food storage. It is also believed that the ability to store food led to more advanced food preparation and preservation techniques. This in turn allowed for the development of other technologies such as farming, pottery and building materials.
It is believed that early civilizations began near fresh water sources, which were a vital necessity for prehistoric hunter-gatherers. This is probably why we find traces of the Olmec, Maya and Inca civilizations in places like Mesopotamia and Peru. All of these civilizations grew into cities, which is another key feature of the term. The development of cities allows a society to expand its trading and manufacturing capabilities and creates a new level of complexity in the division of labor. It also means that a centralized government can be formed and rules over an increasingly large territory.
All civilizations have a number of cultural traits that are unique to them. These include a written language, standardized measurements and currencies, complex mathematics, contracts, tort-based legal systems, architecture, literature, professional art and organized religion. Some cultures have more sophisticated culture than others, but all civilizations rely on government administration to function.
Until the twentieth century, most people who studied and wrote about civilizations were white men of European descent. This led to a narrow, ethnocentric understanding of the term and what constitutes a civilization. This has changed and the word is now used more broadly, with the understanding that all societies have a distinct culture.
Most scholars believe that the five essential facets of civilization are political, religious, economic, technological and cultural. Politics and religion are often closely linked. Religious leaders can help unify and support the authority of political rulers. They can even claim to be representatives or incarnations of gods, as the pharaohs did in Ancient Egypt. In addition to a religion, all civilizations have a distinct economy that supports their growth. This includes a division of labor among workers, farmers, artisans and traders.