1.2: Introduction - Defining Civilization
The term civilization often elicits mostly idealized images of ancient empires, monumental architecture, and the luxurious lives of ruling classes. Civilization, however, is a tricky term. Recent scholars have recognized that at least seven independent civilizations emerged in different regions from 3500 to 1000 BCE. Most civilizations share common characteristics included food surpluses, higher population densities, social stratification, systems of taxation, labor specialization, regular trade, and accumulated learning (or knowledge passed down from generation to generation). The list here is not all-inclusive by any means, but it indicates the complexity of the societies.
In addition to heated debates about its exact definition, civilization can contain a value judgment. If we use the term carelessly, it seems to indicate that some societies are deemed civilized and worthy of inclusion, while others are uncivilized and thus not worth our study. Today, World Historians try to appreciate the great diversity of human experiences and consciously remove these sorts of value judgments.
This chapter focuses on early civilizations in the Fertile Crescent and Northeast Africa, which left some written records. Initially, they had economies based on farming and developed alongside rivers which allowed populations in the Fertile Crescent and Northeast Africa to grow surplus food, and supported urbanization, social stratification, labor specialization, and trade.
Note: The Middle East is a geopolitical term that commonly refers to the countries of northern Africa and southwestern Asia that are on or near the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. The term came into widespread usage as a replacement of the term Near East beginning in the early 20th century, and has included different countries throughout time. This region may also be referred to as Southwest Asia. You may see either term throughout this course.