Civilization is a concept or device used to interpret history. In its broadest sense, civilization refers to any human society with common ways of thinking, beliefs and practices. These are often expressed through a variety of cultural events.
Civilization is the process by which humans develop complex social hierarchies and institutions. Its core traits include the emergence of cities, epidemics, arts and technology. There are also a number of other cultural traits that distinguish civilizations from other societies.
The earliest recognized civilization was Sumer in Mesopotamia. In this early civilization, the development of advanced technologies such as metalwork and art was a major advancement. A culture of peace and love was also a hallmark of civilization.
Civilization has been criticized for many different reasons. One criticism is that it leads to bad effects on the environment. Another is that it is a means for exploitation and oppression. Still another is that it brings good and bad outcomes. However, most people choose to live in increasingly complex societies because of their increased standards of living.
Most civilizations begin as single city-states, though some tribes may adapt to civilized behavior. They use religion to justify their actions. Some religious ascetics try to obstruct the influence of civilization by establishing monasteries.
Other critics point out that the word "civilization" is not necessarily accurate. Many historians treat all societies as savage, barbarian and civilized, although these classifications are not exactly true. Often, civilized civilizations supplant less sophisticated cultures with newer, more powerful ones.
One argument that is used to defend civilization is that the term is derived from the Latin word civis, meaning a citizen. However, a more expansive definition of the term is less meaningful. Instead, it becomes synonymous with culture. This broadening of the definition weakens the descriptive power of the word, because it does not clearly distinguish between civilization and barbarism.
As a result, some critics argue that the term "civilization" is best avoided. They believe it has been abused to justify numerous forms of exploitation and imperialism. Although the word is frequently used in conjunction with globalisation, there are other forms of globalisation that respect international human rights.
A third possible meaning of the word is one that is radically different from the first two. This is not a "civilized" society in the traditional sense, but is not a "primitive" way of life either. Rather, it is an authentic presence of truth, love and creativity.
Despite the criticisms, the term "civilization" continues to be used. It is a term that has been used to describe all sorts of human societies. From the earliest hunter-gatherer bands to modern Europeans, the concept has played a role in history.
Today, the term is used in a wide range of contexts, from the Internet to globalisation to the formation of organizations that support shared interests. For example, the definition of "civilization" in the Wikipedia article on globalisation is different from that in the internet civilization definition.