When we talk about civilization, we usually mean an advanced state of human society in which a high level of culture, science, industry, and government has been reached. This is a problematic definition for archeologists and anthropologists because it implicitly implies that all other states of human society are “uncivilized.” This reductive approach may lead us to overlook important developments in the history of humanity.
Civilization, as it evolved over time, involved many different cultural, economic, and political innovations that occurred simultaneously all around the world. Big historians believe that these developments were shaped by local environmental and historical conditions.
The earliest civilizations probably emerged in areas near large bodies of fresh water. These areas were often rich in resources that were needed for food and other essentials. For example, the Olmec civilization of Mesoamerica (c. 1200 to c. 400 BCE) and the Indus Valley civilization of ancient India both developed around rivers. The same pattern probably holds true for the Sumerian civilization of Mesopotamia (c. 3200 bce to c. 1700 bce).
People in hunter-gatherer societies work all the time to get enough food for their families and communities. So there isn’t much time left over for scholarly research or artistic pursuits. Once agriculture made food surpluses possible, however, people had more time to devote to these activities. And this is when specialized occupations like craftsmen and priests began to appear.
Another important development in the emergence of civilization was the rise of cities. Cities grew to be the most stable type of human settlement. This led to the formation of organized governments and systems of record-keeping. In addition, urban areas facilitated social organization that allowed the formation of classes. Changing the class system in your society can be difficult because it involves changing income and types of employment.
One of the most profound developments in the evolution of civilization was the invention of writing. This allowed humans to record their histories and develop new forms of mathematics and astronomy. The development of standardized units for measuring length also aided in the development of new forms of construction and engineering.
In addition to these key developments, civilizations developed complex hierarchies that centralized power and allowed the accumulation of wealth. This system of power exchange was generally based on coercion, but it was sometimes balanced by a process of consensual power.
Today, many experts believe that civilization is headed for a major crisis. The current model of centralized power and consumption is unsustainable and threatens the survival of humankind. Moreover, the current generation of Westerners is becoming increasingly detached from nature and is addicted to dopamine-stimulating media. This is a dangerous trend, because it could transform the next generation of children into perpetually distracted dopamine junkies ill-equipped to maintain the civilization that their parents and grandparents built. To avoid this, we must continue to develop sustainable models of living and learn from the lessons of civilizations past. Then perhaps we can truly say that civilization is a way of life.