Define civilization. Do we really need it in order to survive and prosper on this planet? The real question is whether we can live above subsistence without the technological innovations that cities generate. Moreover, the question is not as frivolous as it may seem at first glance. Many cultures throughout human history consciously decided not to take the route toward nucleated settlements and the resultant consequences. The Celts represent one example from the time line of our course of a people who preferred not to have cities. The Avars, a Turkic-speaking people from Central Asia, were pastoral nomads who acquired cities during the course of their conquests, yet they “used” cities in ways that would strike average city dwellers as most strange. Section 2.1 of your textbook, World History: The Human Experience to 1500 , presents nine characteristics commonly associated with civilizations. Choose one society from the Week One Civilization Tour , which includes Mesopotamian, Olmec, Egyptian, Harappan, and Ancient Chinese societies. Based on at least two of the characteristics listed in Section 2.1, explain why your chosen society can be considered a civilization. Provide specific examples drawn from this week’s learning materials to support your claims. Cite all sources according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center , using both in-text citations and providing full references at the bottom of your post. Your initial post should be a minimum of 300 words. Respond to two colleagues in a substantive post of at least 150 words. .

1. Define civilization. Do we really need it in order to survive and
prosper on this planet? The real question is whether we can live
above subsistence without the technological innovations that
cities generate. Moreover, the question is not as frivolous as it
may seem at first glance. Many cultures throughout human
history consciously decided not to take the route toward
nucleated settlements and the resultant consequences. The Celts
represent one example from the time line of our course of a
people who preferred not to have cities. The Avars, a Turkic-
speaking people from Central Asia, were pastoral nomads who
acquired cities during the course of their conquests, yet they
“used” cities in ways that would strike average city dwellers as
most strange.
Section 2.1 of your textbook,
World History: The Human Experience to 1500
, presents nine characteristics commonly associated with
civilizations. Choose one society from the
Week One Civilization Tour
, which includes Mesopotamian, Olmec, Egyptian, Harappan,
and Ancient Chinese societies. Based on at least two of the
characteristics listed in Section 2.1, explain why your chosen
society can be considered a civilization. Provide specific
examples drawn from this week’s learning materials to support
your claims. Cite all sources according to APA style as outlined
in the
Ashford Writing Center
, using both in-text citations and providing full references at the
bottom of your post.
Your initial post should be a minimum of 300 words. Respond
to two colleagues in a substantive post of at least 150 words.