Civilization and Complex Institutions
Sydra Gianassi
Period 5
9/12/12
Civilization Interpretive Essay “Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.” - Mark Twain. Civilization is the most highly developed phase of human social development and organization. Over thousands of years historians have come to the conclusion of minimums of being a civilization instead of only being a society. The five criteria of a civilization are advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record keeping, and advanced technology. The standard high-school criteria are used for analyzing every society to conclude if it is a civilization or not. There is controversy whether connection to a world system should be an addition to the criteria or whether civilization is even a valid concept. The perception of civilization has dated back thousands of years concluding that civilization is a valid concept because it helps categorize alike nations. The high-school criteria are suitable principles of civilization and should not be changed. Connection to a world system shouldn’t be added to the criteria because of the redundant contribution to society.
The five standards a civilization needs to endure are advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record keeping, and advanced technology. These 5 criteria are the exact definition of civilization, each principle balances the other. Without these 5 things a civilization would crumble immediately. Cities are the birthplaces or the uprising of the first civilizations. A city is a large group of different people with different cultures. Cities are a center for trade, allowing the city to grow and advance in a structured location. Another standard of civilization are specialized workers. Specialized labor came from the Agricultural revolution, when humans settled in one place and grew their own food. This caused a surplus of food allowing others to do other jobs which cultivated their culture and society.
Period 5
9/12/12
Civilization Interpretive Essay “Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.” - Mark Twain. Civilization is the most highly developed phase of human social development and organization. Over thousands of years historians have come to the conclusion of minimums of being a civilization instead of only being a society. The five criteria of a civilization are advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record keeping, and advanced technology. The standard high-school criteria are used for analyzing every society to conclude if it is a civilization or not. There is controversy whether connection to a world system should be an addition to the criteria or whether civilization is even a valid concept. The perception of civilization has dated back thousands of years concluding that civilization is a valid concept because it helps categorize alike nations. The high-school criteria are suitable principles of civilization and should not be changed. Connection to a world system shouldn’t be added to the criteria because of the redundant contribution to society.
The five standards a civilization needs to endure are advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record keeping, and advanced technology. These 5 criteria are the exact definition of civilization, each principle balances the other. Without these 5 things a civilization would crumble immediately. Cities are the birthplaces or the uprising of the first civilizations. A city is a large group of different people with different cultures. Cities are a center for trade, allowing the city to grow and advance in a structured location. Another standard of civilization are specialized workers. Specialized labor came from the Agricultural revolution, when humans settled in one place and grew their own food. This caused a surplus of food allowing others to do other jobs which cultivated their culture and society.