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The 7 Characteristics of Civilizations: An Introduction to History

Unveil the essence of civilizations and explore the 7 defining traits that shape advanced human societies. Delve into stable food supply, social structures, government systems, religious beliefs, cultural development, technological advancements, and written languages. Understand the nuances that differentiate civilizations from other societal forms and discover their critical roles in shaping our world. From agriculture to written communication, journey through the pillars that uphold civilizations' legacy and impact on humanity. Enhance your analytical skills and historical perspective as you embark on this enlightening exploration.

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The 7 Characteristics of Civilizations: An Introduction to History

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  1. The 7 Characteristics of a Civilization

  2. Introduction Welcome to the birth of history! In this short unit, we will explore what a civilization is. Through the knowledge gained about civilizations, students will be able to analyze, explain, and eventually evaluate how each of the upcoming units fits or does not fit the classification of a civilization.

  3. What is a civilization? • What are the 7 characteristics of a civilization?

  4. What is a Civilization? A civilization is an advanced state of human society. There are 7 characteristics that define a civilization. • Stable food supply - Social structure • System of government - Religious system • Highly developed culture - Advances in technology • Written language Be careful to not associate civilization with civilized and everyone else as barbarians or primitives.

  5. Stable Food Supply • Civilizations need a stable supply of food. Societies can only thrive with plenty of food. • Domesticating of animals and agriculture allowed civilizations to create a stable food supply. Why is this important? Agriculture/Domestication v Hunter/Gatherer

  6. Social Structure • Civilizations have a complex organization, or social structure. This controlled through different jobs and social levels (or status). • Social pyramids example • Ruler • Landowners/priests/government officials • Common class (merchants, craftspeople, etc) • Slaves

  7. System of Government • Civilizations need a well organized system of government to help direct people’s behavior and keep life orderly. • The government is in charge of enforcing laws, construction, leading the army, and distribution of food. • Every civilization has their own style of ruler -Kings -President -Pope -Pharaoh -Senate -Oligarchy How does the government help you?

  8. government • Autocracy: Supreme power by one person (ex. North Korea) • Democracy: system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. • Plutocracy: government by the wealthy. (in the past this would have been ancient Greece or Rome • Oligarchy: a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution. (Russia,China) • Representative democracy (The US- President)elected officials representing a group of people • Canada is a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is head of state.

  9. Religious System • All civilizations need a religious system. This includes, set of beliefs, God(s), and place of worship. • As we progress through the year, we will see how religious views evolved over time. What is religion’s role in society today?

  10. Highly Developed Culture • All civilizations must have a highly developed culture including the arts, like painting, architecture, and music. • Culture is a way to show what a civilization values (important to them). • What is a piece of culture that is present in our lives?

  11. Advances in Technology • All civilizations create new forms of technology (tools or inventions). • These advances prove that a civilization not only developed, but also provided contribution to surrounding area and future generations. What is an advance in technology for Canada?

  12. Written Language • All civilizations must have a highly developed written language. • The beginning of history means the beginning of writing. The first known language was cuneiform, created by the Sumerians • An example of writing can also be pictographs What would your life be like without any writing?

  13. What is a Civilization? • Each of these steps is a valuable piece of a civilization. • VIDEO CLIP! THIS IS YOUR TASK IN GROUPS OF 3 • DUE END OF CLASS

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