CIVILIZATION

Basic Concepts of Civilization

Presented by :

Nishat Anjum Bini (NIB)

Adjunct Faculty
Department of History and Philosophy
North South University
Table of Contents
• Definition of Civilization
• Civilization & Culture
• Factors responsible for the growth of Civilizations
• Evolution of Civilization throughout ages
*Ancient Age
*Medieval Age
*Modern Age
• Key Components of Civilization
 What is Civilization?
 Civilization is combinedly the
improved type of art, science
and religion.
 By civilization we mean the
whole mechanism, technique
and organization which humans
have devised in their endeavor
to control the conditions of their
life.
 "Civilization" comes from the
Latin words Civis (citizen) and
Civitas (city) and refers to a
highly developed culture.
What is Civilization?
 According to Samuel P.
Huntington, civilizations are
'cultural entities' differentiated
from each other by history,
language, cultural traditions and,
most importantly, religion.
 Arnold J. Toynbee argues that
civilizations are born out of more
primitive societies, not as the
result of racial or environmental
factors, but as a response to
challenges, such as new ground,
blows and pressures from other
civilizations, and penalization.
Civilization and Culture
 The two terms culture and civilization are often used interchangeably in general
usage.
 However, civilization refers to a complex way of life that came about as people
began to develop urban settlements. Culture is made up of knowledge, religion,
beliefs, customs, laws, traditions, art and music, etc. 
 A civilization is made up of many complex elements and culture is one of
these elements. 
 Culture is what we are, and civilization is what we have or what we use.
 This is the main difference between culture and civilization.
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
GROWTH OF CIVILIZATIONS
Factors responsible for the growth of Civilizations

 Geographical theories: the climatic hypothesis

 Temperature should seldom fall below 4 degrees Celsius and rise above 17 degrees
Celsius
 Weather must not be uniform
 Challenge & Response theory of British Historian Arnold J. Toynbee
 According to this theory, conditions of hardship or adversity are the real causes
which have brought superior cultures into existence. Such conditions constitute a
challenge which not only stimulates humans to try to overcome it but generates
additional energy for new achievements.
Factors responsible for the growth of Civilizations
 River Valley
 Deposition of fertile alluvial soil caused by the river floods. 
 Continuous and un–interrupted supply of water for irrigation and domestic purposes. 
 Favorable climate generally found on the river valleys. 
 Plenty of food, fruits and vegetables for the humans and fodder for their animals. 
 River valleys helped fishing. 
 They helped the growth of trade and communication by providing means of transport
EVOLUTION OF CIVILIZATIONS
Various stages of civilization from ancient to modern time
Civilizations throughout time

 Ancient Age
 Medieval Age
 Modern Age
Ancient Age (5000 B.C.E to 476 A.D.)
• The present world owes an
immense debt to the powerful
empires and mighty cities of
antiquity.

• Ancient inventions, techniques

and concepts enabled the
advancement of humankind and
paved the foundation for life in
the modern world.

• Invention of wheel, language,

writing system, paper, farming,
democracy are some noteworthy
examples or boons of the ancient
era.
Notable Civilizations
Asia/Middle East/Africa

• Mesopotamian Civilization
• Indus Valley Civilization
• Egyptian Civilization
• Persian Civilization
• Chinese Civilization

Europe

• Greek & Roman Civilizations

North and South America

• Mayan Civilization
• Inca Civilization
• Aztec Civilization
 Medieval/Middle Ages (476 A.D. to 1453 )
• Medieval era begins with the fall
of the Roman empire and the
rise of the Christian and Muslim
empires in Europe and Asia.

• The medieval age reformulated

the political and socio-
economic order to meet the
challenges of the changing
time.

• Renaissance in Europe paved

the way for modern era.

• Development of arts, culture,

architecture, intellect was a
major contribution of this age.
Modern Age(1453-1945)
Scientific inventions and technological revolution became evident.

Agricultural revolution, industrial revolution, globalization, international trade, development of

transportation and communication system became the core support for the progress of the
civilizations all around the world

Significant Events :
• Industrial Revolution
• Rise of nationalism .democracy,
liberalism
• Beginning of colonialism and
imperialism
• Fall of Turkish empire
• Crisis in Europe
• First and Second World War
Post Modern Age(1945-till present)
Significant events:
• Decolonization

• Formation of
Republics

• Liberation of Third
World Countries in
Asia, Africa, Latin
America

• Invention of Nuclear
Weapons

• Digitalization
FEATURES OF CIVILIZATIONS
Key features that helped in the foundation of a civilization
Major features of a civilization

1. Improved Agriculture and Cities

2. Organized Central Government
3. Complex Religion
4. Division of Labour
5. Social Classes
6. Writing System
7. Art and Architecture
8. Public Works
1. Improved Agriculture & Cities

As nomadic people settled near

fertile river valleys, they began
to grow surplus or extra food.
They came to know about
irrigation system and other
methods of cultivation. Food
security was essential behind
the establishment of permanent
human settlements. In time, the
settlements grew into organized
cities.
Example: Ancient city of Ur in
Sumer, City of Babylon in
Mesopotamia.
2. Organized Central Government

As cities developed and

expanded, the food supply and
irrigation systems needed to
be maintained. Governments,
such as tribal councils or
religious leaders, began to
oversee the business and
overall existence of the cities.

Example: Government of
Hammurabi in Ancient City of
Babylon
3.Complex Religion

Early civilizations were often unified

by religion—a system of beliefs and behaviors
that deal with the meaning of existence. As
more and more people shared the same set of
beliefs and practices, people who did not know
each other could find common ground and
build mutual trust and respect. It was typical
for politics and religion to be strongly
connected. In some cases, political leaders
also acted as religious leaders. In other cases,
religious leaders were different from the
political rulers but still worked to justify and
support the power of the political leaders.
In Ancient Egypt, for example, the kings—later
called pharaohs—practiced divine kingship,
claiming to be representatives, or even human
incarnations, of gods.
4. Division of Labour/Job Specialization
As civilizations became more
complex artisans and craftsmen
were needed to perform
specialized tasks. No longer could
individuals do all the work.  In a
complex civilization, farmers may
cultivate one type of crop and
depend on other people for other
foods, clothing, shelter, and
information. Civilizations that
depend on trade are specially
marked by divisions of labor.

Example: People engaged in

trading, farming, crafting, teaching,
stone-cutting, weaving and so on.
5. Social Classes

Both political and religious organization

helped to create and reinforce social
hierarchies, which are clear distinctions in
status between individual people and
between different groups. Political leaders
could make decisions that impacted entire
societies, such as whether to go to war.
Religious leaders gained special status since
they alone could communicate between a
society and its god or gods.
In addition to these leaders, there were also
artisans who provided goods and services,
and merchants who engaged in the trade of
these goods. There were also lower classes of
laborers who performed less specialized
work, and in some cases there were slaves.
All of these classes added to the complexity
and economic production of a civilization.
6. Writing System
Writing emerged in many early
civilizations as a way to keep records Sumerian cuneiform tablet
and better manage complex
institutions. In all the places where
writing developed—no matter its form
or purpose—literacy, or the ability to
read and write, was limited to small
groups of highly educated elites, such as
scribes and priests.
Example : The world's oldest known
written language is Sumerian, which
developed in Mesopotamia around
3100 B.C.E. The most familiar form
of early Sumerian writing was
called cuneiform. Cuneiform writing
in early Mesopotamia was first used
to keep track of economic exchanges.
7. Art and Architecture
Another notable feature of many
civilizations was monumental
architecture. This type of
architecture was often created for
political reasons, religious
purposes, or for the public good.
Different styles were developed
and copied by societies. Often the
art was used to impress visitors and
people about the beauty and
power of a dynasty or community.
Examples: The pyramids of Egypt,
for example, were monuments to
deceased rulers. Defensive walls
and sewer systems provided
defense and sanitation
8. Public Works

Public works were soon

developed to aid and benefit
communities. The government
would order projects to be
completed to make the civilization
more efficient. Projects like this
might include: irrigation systems,
roads, bridges, and walls for
defense.
Further Reading:

• Burns, E.M. & others(1986), World Civilizations, W.W. Norton & Company: New York
•
Wallbank,T. Walter, Bailkey,Nels M., Taylor, Alastair M.(1985), Civilization: Past and
Present, Scott Foresman/Addison-Wesley: New York
•
Huntington, P. Samuel (1996), The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World
Order, Simon & Schuster: New York
Thank
You!