Civilization refers to an advanced state of human society that consists of highly developed forms of government, culture, industry and common social norms. Historians, anthropologists and other scholars have identified several core characteristics of civilization. These include urban centers, agricultural manipulation and storage, irrigation, written language, standards of measurements, craftsmanship technology, social stratification, state government and a common religion or ideology.
The most common definition of civilization is that it is a high level of social complexity and culture, achieved by humans through the application of reason over instinct. It is a triumph of the human spirit over mankind’s animal nature. This is a theme of many of the works of Western philosophers such as Rousseau and Spengler, as well as many religious writers including Christ.
Early civilizations arose from hunter-gatherers who formed villages and then cities. These cities were the centers of innovation and cultural exchange. They had highly stratified societies with different classes based on wealth and type of work performed. This led to the development of agriculture, allowing societies to produce surplus food and allow for division of labor and the creation of craft industries.
Civilizations also had centralized power structures, which enabled them to develop complex institutions and control the economy. This allowed them to achieve high levels of wealth, culture and education. They were usually unified by religion, often in the form of divine kingship, with kings and pharaohs claiming to be representatives, or even incarnations, of gods.
These features were all achieved by a combination of hard work and technological advances. The earliest civilizations were located in river valleys, where water was plentiful and could be used to support agriculture and crafts. They were often irrigated by canals or ditches. In addition, they began to develop writing systems to record important documents and keep track of economic trades. These advances helped lead to a rise in science and technology and gave rise to new types of materials and inventions such as pottery, glass and iron weapons.
It took a long time for non-Western cultures to be considered as civilizations, and many scholars made these determinations from the perspective of their own Western European heritage. However, in the twentieth century, scholars began to recognize the value of non-Western culture and its role in human history.
Other researchers have theorized about what civilization is, and some of them have suggested that there are five essential facets that every civilization must possess. These are described as matter and spirit, the ability to produce, the ability to create and the capacity to innovate. They are the foundation of all civilizations and the key to understanding why it is possible for humans to rise above their animal nature.