Civilization is defined as a complex human society with certain cultural and technological developments, usually consisting of multiple urban settlements. Key elements that comprise civilizations include organized groups of people and their shared culture, a centralized government or state, a system of writing/literacy, established religion, praiseworthy moral traits, and advanced technology. All civilizations exhibit large population centers, monumental architecture/art, common languages/symbols of communication, bureaucratic government administration over territories, division of labor among specialized roles, and social/economic class structure. Civilizations represent the highest level of human cultural and societal development.

1. Civilization
Ariel D. Marto
Discussant

2. Civilization
A civilization is a complex human society, usually
made up of different cities, with certain characteristics of
cultural and technological development. In many parts of
the world, early civilizations formed when people began
coming together in urban settlements.

3. Elements of Civilization
A description of civilization will not be complete
without briefly expounding some of the things that make
it up. They comprise, among others, of the following: (1)
people with their cultures (2) the state or centralized
government (3) writing or literacy (4) religion (5) moral
traits that are praiseworthy (6) technology.

4.  People
There can be no civilization without people. They are the most essential
material element of civilization. It is due to this fact that some scholars define
civilization as ‘society and its component parts, its economic, legal and moral
systems, etc.
 Culture
Culture is another important element of civilization. It gives a civilization a
distinctive outlook. Unlike other elements of civilization, culture is passed down from
generation to generation. It is the factor that defines civilization the most. It is also known
as “the social heritage.” Like civilization culture is very complex. It entails material (visible)
and non-material (invisible) elements.

5.  Religion
Religion has always been vital to society because of the functions it
performs. It is the pillar of a progressive and enlightened civilization. The following
are some of the functions of religion:
1.Regulating behavior. Many rules of moral conduct, if not all, are based on religion.
2. Giving meaning to life.
3. Providing mental peace.
4. Promoting and strengthening social solidarity.
5. Promoting philanthropy.
6. Promoting creativity in art, literature and science

6.  Literacy
Literacy is important because it has a civilizing effect on the
communities. Education is the foundation of individual and societal well-being
and development. It is the key to transformation. In contrast, illiteracy is a
serious obstacle to individual and societal development.
 The State or Centralized Government
The 17th-century English philosopher Thomas Hobbes asserted that the
state of a community without a government is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and
short.” The state or civil society is, therefore, established to guard the society
against greed and injustice of some of its members and protect the rights of the
people. This necessitates legislation and execution of the law.

7.  Praiseworthy Moral Traits
Praiseworthy moral traits are the basis and core of civilization. They are
essential for the survival of any society and provide the foundation for the
physical development of civilization.
 Technology
Technology is an intrinsic part of civilization. It enables man to do myriad of
things without the need for slaves. In the early civilizations technology was needed for
toolmaking, construction of dikes to control floods from the rivers and other sources,
construction and maintenance of canals and development of irrigation system, building
of fortifications and large buildings. Advances in technology have made possible the
production of a vast number of goods and services.

8. Characteristic of Civilization
All civilizations have certain characteristics. These include:
• large population centers
• monumental architecture and unique art styles
• shared communication strategies
• systems for administering territories
• a complex division of labor
• the division of people into social and economic classes

9.  Urban Areas
Large population centers, or urban areas, allow civilizations to develop,
although people who live outside these urban centers are still part of that
region’s civilization. Rural residents of civilizations may include farmers,
fishers, and traders, who regularly sell their goods and services to urban
residents.
 Monuments
All civilizations work to preserve their legacy by building large
monuments and structures. This is as true today as it was thousands
of years ago.

10.  Shared Communication
Shared communication is another element that all civilizations share. Shared
communication may include spoken language; alphabets; numeric systems; signs,
ideas, and symbols; and illustration and representation. Shared communication
allows the infrastructure necessary for technology, trade, cultural exchange,
and government to be developed and shared throughout the civilization.
 Infrastructure and Administration
All civilizations rely on government administration—bureaucracy.
Perhaps no civilization better exemplifies this than ancient Rome. The word
“civilization” itself comes from the Latin word civis, meaning "citizen."

11.  Division of Labor
Civilizations are marked by complex divisions of labor. This
means that different people perform specialized tasks. In a purely
agricultural society, members of the community are largely self-
sufficient, and can provide food, shelter, and clothing for themselves.
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.

12.  Class Structure
The last element that is key to the development of
civilizations is the division of people into classes. This is
a complex idea that can be broken down into two
parts: income and type of work performed.

13. Types of Civilization
The types of Civilization are the following:
 Planetary Civilization
 Stellar Civilization
 Galactic Civilization
 Universal Civilization
 Multiverse Civilization
 Multidimensions Civilization
 Creator / Omega Civilization

14. We are still a 'Type Zero' civilization.
Ever since we first appeared on earth, humanity
has been problem-solving, inventing, and
developing its technology. We've managed to
leverage our understanding of science to build
relatively advanced civilizations and rise above
other species.

15. World politics is entering a new phase, in which the great divisions
among humankind and the dominating source of international conflict will be
cultural. Civilizations-the highest cultural groupings of people-are differentiated
from each other by religion, history, language and tradition. These divisions
are deep and increasing in importance. From Yugoslavia to the Middle East to
Central Asia, the fault lines of civilizations are the battle lines of the future. In
this emerging era of cultural conflict the United States must forge alliances
with similar cultures and spread its values wherever possible. With alien
civilizations the West must be accommodating if possible, but confrontational if
necessary. In the final analysis, however, all civilizations will have to learn to
tolerate each other.

16. Since 1922, the Council has published Foreign Affairs, America's most
influential publication on international affairs and foreign policy. It is more than
a magazine — it is the international forum of choice for the most important
new ideas, analysis, and debate on the most significant issues in the world.
Inevitably, articles published in Foreign Affairs shape the political dialogue for
months and years to come. With America more engaged in the world than
ever, Foreign Affairs is performing an especially valuable service for its
readers. Educators helping teach tomorrow's leaders and thinkers can also
benefit from Foreign Affairs through its website, books and academic
resources including our customized textbook program, Among Nations at
www.AmongNations.com.

17. Importance of Civilization
Every civilization regardless of the creed by which it is characterized has
two facets namely, material and spiritual: “civilization denotes both material
and moral values” or infrastructure (material) and superstructure (spiritual):
“Civilization is an advanced stage in social development that fully supports the
education, spiritual, and physical development of its people, with technological
advancements for the enhancement of the society, in accordance with the
needs of the people.” The relationship between the material and spiritual
aspects of civilization is like the two sides of a coin; one cannot exist without
the other: “there has been no great civilization without spiritual aspect to it.”

18. This characteristic of civilization (body and spirit) is a
reflection of the nature of human being; i.e. matter and spirit.
In view of the fact that matter and spirit are the necessary
elements of every civilization, it is not an exaggeration to say
that civilization is a signification of a society’s material and
spiritual achievements. It is “the attainment of both material
well-being and the elevation of the human spirit.

19. Thank You!