Characteristics of Civilizations

1. Characteristics of Civilizations

2. What makes civilizations different? • “An advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, industry, and government has been reached.” • A civilization is a large group of people who like and work together. • A group of people that share a single culture. • Each civilization has certain things in common…

3. System of government • A government’s job is to make people’s life orderly. • The government enforces laws, collects taxes, and build public works (sewers, parks, roads, etc.) • In the ancient world, most civilizations were ruled by kings.

4. Writing • Before writing, any ideas could only spread by what people said. • The written language allows the laws, ideas, and words of a civilization to spread beyond a city’s walls. • This also allowed later civilizations to study the past – the birth of history.

5. Culture • The beliefs and behaviors of a society. • Culture gives a civilization its “flavor;” it makes it unique. • Includes things like art, music, food, and clothing.

6. Social structure • Civilization have complex societies. • Social structures includes different jobs and social levels. • Different classes in society, such as priests, merchants, artists, and farmers.

7. Technology • Creating new technologies makes life easier. • Creating new technologies helps civilizations advance themselves • Without new technology, civilizations go stale and are overtaken by others.

8. Stable food supply • People need enough food! • As towns and cities grew larger, people had to find new ways to produce more food. • Inventions like irrigation, farming tools, and new crops help civilizations produce more food.

9. Religion • All civilizations have some form of a belief system. • Many ancient civilizations were polytheistic • Polytheistic: worshipping many different gods. • People tried to please their gods to bring good crops and settle arguments.