When historians talk about civilization, they mean the cultural characteristics of complex societies that have cities, government, religion, social structure and writing. While not every human culture is considered a civilization, most have some of these features. Civilizations also have a way to get food and ways to protect themselves from outside attack. They usually have some form of writing and a developed culture that includes art and music.
In addition to agriculture, which was an important step in the development of civilizations, they needed to find other ways to make their complex societies run smoothly. Early farmers were subject to a variety of natural disasters such as rageful storms, floods and drought that could wipe out their crops. People also had to deal with the fact that farming used up all their available land and, after a while, would have to move to a new area to cultivate their crops again. This caused them to develop a way to move around, called trade.
The development of cities allowed these civilizations to grow and expand. In addition to being a place to live and work, cities provided a central focus for their people. They were often built in valleys or riverbanks, which offered protection from invaders and were easy to defend. They were also important places for trade. This made them the ideal place for large numbers of people to come together to trade, work and socialize. City life led to the development of specialized jobs such as bureaucrats, priests and scribes.
Civilizations also had to create a system of law to help them govern their communities and deal with disputes. They often developed a written language to communicate their laws and customs. This helped them record their history and build on the knowledge they had gained from past experiences.
All of these changes created a highly structured society. People in these societies had a set of beliefs and a place to worship and they worked in different jobs to provide for their families and the needs of the community. They had a division of labor that included working in the fields and producing goods to be sold in the markets. They had a hierarchy of leadership, including political leaders and religious leaders. These leaders ruled over the larger society and decided what to do, such as going to war.
Scholars have debated the exact meaning of civilization, but most agree that it is a complex society with shared institutions, such as government and religion. It is also a highly organized culture that is based on urban life, the development of a written language and the creation of a variety of tools and manufacturing techniques. The word “civilization” has also been applied to non-Western cultures, such as the Moundbuilders of North America and the Inca of Peru. The application of the term to these cultures has sometimes been controversial because they did not always have the six characteristics mentioned above.