A civilization is a complex social system characterized by shared institutions, symbolic systems of communication, and the growth of state. A civilization is typically based on a hierarchical world view. Other characteristics of a civilization include shared artistic activities and institutions. In addition, it is usually characterized by urbanization.
Artistic activity
Artistic activity in Civilization is an important part of the development of a civilization. Before the advent of writing and printing, art was created as a means of technology, ritual, and political propaganda. However, the function of art changed in the early modern era as it became a creative and specialized activity.
Artistic activity has evolved in almost every human civilization. It is closely linked to language, music, and ritual. It is a defining trait of the human species. Visual arts evolved alongside music, dance, ritual, religion, and language. Animals also engage in visual display and vocalization as part of courtship and dominance competition.
Artists view themselves as representatives of the creative elite and have a heightened sense of self-importance. As long as this privilege is maintained, art will continue to be a form of social reproduction. By maintaining the status of the artist as a specialist, art keeps creative activity as a niche activity for the elite. It also stifles creativity and channels it into insignificant artifacts.
Shared institutions
Shared institutions are a key element in the development of a civilization. These groups of people have a common purpose, such as the education of a population, or the protection of the territory. They also have complex divisions of labor and a system of government. For example, in the early years of civilization, the people of Mesopotamia used wooden counting sticks to record population data, but they later invented writing, paving the way for other cultures to follow suit.
While the term civilization refers to a complex way of life, there is no single definition. In general, civilizations have five traits. These traits include urban areas, shared means of communication, administrative infrastructure, and division of labor. Here are the key traits of civilizations: (a) specialized workers; (b) shared institutions; (c) advanced technology and cities.
Hierarchical world view
The idea of a hierarchical world view in Civilization is not new. Throughout history, societies and civilizations have used various discourses to differentiate, evaluate, and include people. These discourses are still very much in effect today. In this article, I will discuss several key aspects of civilizational discourses.
Historically, the term “civilization” has been used to define political communities. This is a pluralist sense, but it is important to note that civilization also includes the concept of progress. Using a singular definition of civilization may be more useful to understand the emergence of advanced societies, including civilized societies.
Another common use of the term “civilization” is to describe a community of people with a high level of science, industry, government, and culture. This definition is problematic for archaeologists, however, because it makes an overt value judgment about human societies. It implies that civilization is superior to other forms of social organization.
Agriculture
Agriculture has been an integral part of civilization for thousands of years. It allowed humans to create food surpluses and settle in cities. Before agriculture, humans hunted, harvested, and gathered their food. This process also enabled the domestication of animals. Humans first started farming around eleven thousand years ago and domesticated animals around ten thousand years ago. Today, there are over 2 billion people who still depend on agriculture for their survival.
Agriculture spread throughout the world. At first, it was relatively slow in terms of region, but later was a rapid switch from hunting to farming. It was adapted to semi-arid climates and began to grow widely in the Near East. It then reached Europe, where it was used for food. In the Andes mountains, people also began raising corn and peanuts. They also domesticated guinea pigs and llamas.
Advanced civilizations began to develop in regions where food was abundant. These civilizations clustered in villages, towns, and cities. As their populations expanded, they established centralized ruling powers that organized large-scale irrigation projects and distributed food. They also developed complex social and political structures that led to increasing social stratification and differences between rich and poor people. The hereditary rulers of these societies used taxation to maintain standing armies, improve technology, and support the development of society.
Agriculture brought the first major advances in technology. Using iron-tipped plows, people began to cultivate previously unusable land. They gathered food in huge quantities, and eventually developed metallurgy. They used metals to make tools and to store surplus harvests.
State formation
The historical theory of state formation asserts that states are formed when groups of people come together to control each other and gain more power and wealth. The theory also applies to a group of people competing over resources. The leaders of these groups may decide to form a government and recruit armies to enforce their laws.
A different theory of state formation focuses on how nation-states form, arguing that they are necessary for leveraging resources for fighting and defending against wars. The theory of state formation is most widely associated with the work of sociolog Charles Tilly, who analyzed changes in European political, social, and technological life from the Middle Ages to the modern day. Ultimately, Tilly sought to explain the emergence of nation-states as the dominant forms of state on Earth.
Another theory of state formation in civilization is the idea that states are social projects, and that they may lose touch with the broader social evolution. In the history of nation-states, we have seen what is known as a “Popular Moment.” These events are usually peaceful and occur when the power of a prevailing national elite is reduced or replaced by forces of the people.
While the concept of state formation in civilization is a cognitive tool used to enhance political understanding, it should not be taken for granted. The concept of a civilization state is a conservative political project, but it does have certain advantages. For example, it helps us to see how societies have evolved throughout history and what drives their development.
Spread by invasion
A civilization is an advanced society that spreads through trade, invasion, religious conversion, and bureaucratic control. The spread of civilization also occurs through adaptation by non-civilized populations. In addition to its cultural features, civilizations are characterized by a strong elite and complex social systems. But the exact mechanisms by which civilizations spread are not yet clear.
