A civilization is a complex human society, normally made up of different cities, with certain characteristics of cultural and technological development. In many parts of the earth, early civilizations formed when people began coming together in urban settlements. Nevertheless, defining what civilization is, and what societies fall under that designation, is a hotly contested statement, fifty-fifty among today'due south anthropologists.

The word "civilization" relates to the Latin word "civitas" or "city." This is why the most bones definition of the word "civilization" is "a order fabricated up of cities." But early in the development of the term, anthropologists and others used "civilisation" and "civilized society" to differentiate betwixt societies they found culturally superior (which they were often a office of), and those they plant culturally junior (which they referred to as "savage" or "barbaric" cultures). The term "civilization" was often applied in an ethnocentric fashion, with "civilizations" being considered morally good and culturally advanced, and other societies being morally incorrect and "astern." This complicated history is what makes defining a civilization troublesome for scholars, and why today's modern definition is even so in flux.

Withal, most anthropologists agree on some criteria to define a society as a civilization. First, civilizations have some kind of urban settlements and are not nomadic. With support from the other people living in the settlement, labor is divided up into specific jobs (called the division of labor), so not everyone has to focus on growing their own food. From this specialization comes grade structure and government, both aspects of a culture. Another criterion for civilization is a surplus of food, which comes from having tools to aid in growing crops. Writing, trading, artwork and monuments, and development of scientific discipline and technology are all aspects of civilizations.

However, there are many societies that scholars consider civilizations that practise not meet all of the criteria higher up. For example, the Incan Empire was a large civilisation with a government and social hierarchy. It left backside a wealth of art, and had highly developed architecture­­­—but no written language. This is why the concept of "civilization" is hard to define; however, it is notwithstanding a helpful framework with which to view how humans come together and class a guild.

Civilizations

This forest of Buddhist shrines remains at Myanmar'southward (Burma'south) first capital.

anthropologist

Substantive

person who studies cultures and characteristics of communities and civilizations.

Noun

complex mode of life that developed as humans began to develop urban settlements.

acculturate

Verb

to bring out of a savage or uneducated country.

class

Noun

partitioning in society based on income and type of employment.

contested

Describing word

called into question.

criteria

Plural Substantive

set up of standards or rules.

Noun

agronomical produce.

Noun

learned behavior of people, including their languages, belief systems, social structures, institutions, and textile goods.

ethnocentric

Adjective

evaluating other peoples and cultures according to the belief that i'due south own culture is superior

authorities

Noun

arrangement or order of a nation, land, or other political unit of measurement.

hierarchy

Noun

identification of certain actions or items every bit having greater or lesser relative impacts.

Incan Empire

Noun

(1438-1533) empire stretching along the coastal highlands and Andes mountains of South America.

labor

Noun

piece of work or employment.

moral

Adjective

right, simply, or good.

nomadic

Adjective

having to do with a way of life lacking permanent settlement.

savage

adjective, noun

wild, untamed, uncivilized.

scholar

Noun

educated person.

settlement

Noun

customs or hamlet.

society

Noun

large community, linked through similarities or relationships.

specialization

Noun

process of concentrating on and becoming an skilful in a detail field of study or skill

surplus

Noun

more what is needed or wanted.

urban

Adjective

having to do with city life.

wealthy

Describing word

very rich.

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    Tyson Chocolate-brown, National Geographic Club

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    National Geographic Society

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    Program Specialists

    Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society
    Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

    Final Updated

    March four, 2019

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