A civilization is a complex society. It has laws and religion, a system of farming to provide food, and ways to protect the people living in the community. Civilization also includes an advanced division of labor and development in the arts and sciences. It can be difficult to pin down a list of characteristics that define a civilization because each one will reflect the judgment and point of view of the person making the list. Nonetheless, most historians agree that civilization requires at least some of the following:
The origin of civilization is a hotly debated topic in the world of academia. It is generally agreed that the first civilizations emerged at least 5,000 years ago. They were societies that lived in towns rather than tribes or family groups. They were organized and developed culture, agriculture, and a system of ruling (government). They had a central government that controlled the production centers and military, and they used writing to record their ideas and history for posterity.
Civilization began with a shift to permanent settlements that could support higher densities of people than were possible in nomadic hunter-gatherer groups. Agricultural societies grew, and the division of labor enabled people to specialize in jobs that required more than brute physical strength. Priests took charge of the harvesting and storage of grain, and wealthy farmers acquired enough wealth to become elite rulers known as kings.
As civilizations grew, they had to find ways to protect their citizens against internal and external threats. This led to the emergence of governments with control over the economy, military, and civil affairs. Civilizations also developed metallurgy, a system of measurement, and written language.
Some scholars argue that civilization reaches its zenith when it becomes a global state with the power to control other states. The most advanced and powerful civilizations were those of Rome, whose empire lasted more than 1,000 years. Others disagree, and say that there are many reasons for civilizations to decline, including economic, environmental, and moral factors.
The earliest civilizations are found in places like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China. Some experts believe that the prehistoric foragers who carved the limestone pillars at Gobekli Tepe, which dates back to 11,000 years ago, also belong to this category. However, the Jomon people of Japan were sedentary and sophisticated, but they never developed full-blown agriculture.
It is important to understand that civilization isn’t a neutral term, and that it reflects our values and beliefs about our place in the universe. It is also a tool to help us understand how humans have been able to adapt and survive for thousands of years, and how they have developed the resources necessary to endure. We can learn from these experiences and apply them to our own lives to improve the quality of life. The future of civilization may depend on our ability to do so.