Civilization is an extremely complex type of human society. It is so complex that it can be difficult to categorize, but most historians, anthropologists, and archaeologists now agree that it is a distinct type of community with some particular features. These are the ones that make up civilization:
First, people began to live in cities and communities that were much larger than hunter-gatherers or nomadic groups. These early communities also made a huge leap in the food they could produce by cultivating fields and domesticating animals. This meant that a lot more people could be fed in a smaller area than was possible before, so there was no need to go on the hunt or to move around as much. This allowed people to have more leisure time, which made it possible to explore art, for example, by weaving baskets or creating jewelry. It was also easier to grow crops with the help of irrigation systems, so food supply became less dependent on weather and soil conditions.
This new way of living, however, did not eliminate all conflict. People were still wary of each other and there were battles and clashes. There is even evidence that some of the earliest civilizations were not entirely peaceful, and some groups did not last very long. This was partly due to the fact that some people were stronger or smarter than others. Those who were physically weak or unintelligent may have been left behind as the more powerful and able-bodied got ahead.
These early civilizations began to develop more and more complex institutions, including government, religion, trade, and writing. These were all developed in response to the need to manage growing city populations. Governments came into existence to keep the peace and enforce laws, while religion provided a unified community with common beliefs. Trade was an important development, because it enabled these communities to share new ideas and technology with each other.
As civilizations grew more complex, they tended to be unified by religion and politics, with religious leaders often serving as political leaders as well. This was particularly true in Ancient Egypt, where kings, called pharaohs, claimed to be the human incarnation of gods.
In a general sense, civilization is the triumph of reason over instinct and of the human spirit over the animal world. It is a profound achievement that makes civilizations and culture, which is its constant companion, uniquely human.
The word “civilization” is sometimes misused to set up harmful oppositions between world societies, with “civilized” societies seen as superior to “non-civilized” ones. Big historians today understand that this is not helpful, and they avoid using the term to categorize human societies. However, they do use it carefully, to describe a specific type of human community with certain features. These are the features that make up civilization: