Civilization is a complex way of life characterized by urban areas, shared methods of communication and division of labor. It also includes organized religion and a variety of artistic and scientific advances. Many people who live in civilizations view other groups that do not have these same traits as uncivilized, and often refer to them using derogatory terms such as savage or barbarian. While experts don’t agree about exactly what makes a civilization, most believe that the emergence of agriculture and cities are important markers of civilized behavior.
Agriculture changed the way people lived by allowing them to store food and to grow crops on a large scale. This allowed communities to become more densely populated and to develop complex social structures based on wealth and power. This in turn created a need for leadership and security, which led to the development of governments. These were often ruled by kings, who were seen as the human incarnation of gods or goddesses. In most civilizations, leaders used religious beliefs to unify the people and justify their rule.
Some scholars argue that civilizations are the result of a “civilizing process,” a slow and gradual evolution that leads to greater complexity in culture, technology and politics. However, this theory has been criticized by others, who argue that certain cultures are more advanced than others because of their genetic makeup or because they have an advantage in the environment where they live.
The most common attribute of civilization is the development of cities, or urban settlements. In addition to being centers of trade and commerce, cities brought together large populations of people who did not know each other. This allowed the development of complex social hierarchies, and led to the growth of specialized professions such as law, art, architecture and metallurgy. It also gave rise to complex religions and elaborately designed artwork.
Other characteristics of civilization include a developed transportation system, writing, standardized measurement and currency, contractual and tort-based legal systems, mathematics, metallurgy, scientific understanding, art, architecture, literature and music. Civilized societies also have complex cultural values, such as respect for the elderly and the dead.
While the term civilization is sometimes used to refer to any complex society, it is more commonly used to describe those societies that have achieved a high level of urbanization and a wide range of social, political and cultural advancements. Experts disagree about whether some civilizations, such as those of the Niger River Valley in West Africa, deserve to be called civilized, since they did not develop extensive social hierarchies and political structures.
While the exact conditions that distinguish civilizations are unclear, some historians argue that a civilization is characterized by the development of large population centers, unique architecture and art styles, a state-based decision-making apparatus, writing and a complex division of labor. It is also believed that all civilizations have at least one defining art form, such as painting or sculpture. However, the development of these art forms may have come only after the emergence of civilization itself.