Fundamentals of Civilization Essential Questions What qualifies as

Fundamentals of Civilization

Essential Questions What qualifies as a civilization? What are the benefits of using civilization as a qualifier? What are the drawbacks of using civilization as a qualifier?

Culture and Civilization ● ● Culture → wide range of ideas, feelings, beliefs and habits an individual shares with other members of his or her society. Civilization → collection of many cultures within a large community ● Composed of eight different elements

Cultural Diffusion ● ● ● When two people from different cultures encounter each other, ideas tend to be exchanged which can become brand new ideas or adaptations of other ones. This exchange of ideas and beliefs between two different cultures is referred to as cultural diffusion. Examples of this can be Hispanic individuals making Italian pizza, Chinese people making Mexican food, Asian cultures following Roman Catholicism.

Elements of Civilization - Cities ● ● When many cultures gather together and their populations grow, they move from being communities, to towns, to cities. Cities → larger areas that have political centers, social centers, and financial centers.

Elements of Civilization – Social Classes ● ● Social classes → breakdown of populations and civilizations according to social standing or level of wealth Societies began to rank their citizens as a means of separating certain groups from others

Elements of Civilization - Religion ● ● Religion → system of beliefs which usually involve a belief in a higher power or supernatural force Religion has been a unifying force in many civilizations while in others it has served to divide.

Elements of Civilization – Writing Systems ● ● Writing systems → systems that use symbols to represent spoken sounds. Writing systems are crucial for cultures since they are used to keep records.

Elements of Civilization – Arts and Architecture ● ● ● Arts and Architecture → the defining characteristics of a culture's creativity. Allows historians and other people to see the unique features of a culture. Distinguishes one culture from another

Elements of Civilization – Job Specialization ● ● Job specialization → clearly definition of different occupations within a society Allowed for individuals to become specialists within a field rather than attempt to work many jobs without any special skills

Elements of Civilization Technology ● ● ● Technology → any invention or item that can help make other aspects of life easier The use of technology has been associated with the level of civilization within a culture. The higher the level of technology, the more advanced the culture

Elements of Civilization Government ● ● ● Government → system of rule over a community or civilization Governments are necessary for the protection of citizens from each other and outside forces People subscribe to government to benefit from the rule of law.

Elements of Civilization – Public Works ● ● Public Works → systems or amenities provided by a government to assist in the daily life of its citizens Public Works range from subways to sewer systems to sanitation.

The Eight Elements or Features of Civilization ● Historians can classify civilizations when they are able to distinguish these eight features: ● Cities ● Government ● Social Classes ● Religion (sometimes) ● Arts and Architecture ● Job Specialization ● Technology ● Public Works ● Writing Systems

Essential Questions What qualifies as a civilization? What are the benefits of using civilization as a qualifier? What are the drawbacks of using civilization as a qualifier?