Perspective on Civilization Lecture 1

Introduction to Civilization

1. INTRODUCTION: Perspective on Civilization I ( POCN02F ) Prepared by Raizza P. Corpuz c2016

2. Etymological Meaning word civilization relates to the Latin term  civitas , or ”city”, refers to urban state-level societies civilization often means nearly the same thing as culture or even regional traditions including one or more separate states Civilization comes from the Latin word " civis ," meaning "citizen."

3. the process by which a society or place reaches an advanced stage of social development and organization . the society, culture, and way of life of a particular area

4. inevitable end product of social or political evolution The diversity of human experience seems too complex and vast for our concepts to fit reality perfectly . It might be wiser, and perhaps closer to the truth, to realize that each human society is shaped by its own unique set of circumstances, and that universal explanations or general concepts do not always make perfect sense. 

5. It is defined both by common objective elements, such as language, history, religion, customs, institutions, and by the subjective self-identification of people Civilizations may involve a large number of people , or a very small number of people, such as the Anglophone Caribbean . A civilization may include several nation states , as is the case with Western, Latin American and Arab civilizations , or only one, as is the case with Japanese civilization .

6. Thus, Civilizations are nonetheless meaningful entities, and while the lines between them are seldom sharp, they are real. Civilizations are dynamic; they rise and fall, they divide and merge civilizations disappear and are buried in the sands of time.

7. What do we mean when we talk of a civilization? A civilization is a cultural entity. Villages, regions, ethnic groups, nationalities, religious groups , all have distinct cultures at different levels of cultural heterogeneity. A civilization is the highest cultural grouping of people and the broadest level of cultural identity, people have short of that which distinguishes humans from other species.  

8. DESCRIBING CIVILIZATION Civilization is a complex way of life that came about as people began to develop urban settlements. Civilizations first appeared in Mesopotamia, in what is now Iraq, then in Egypt. Civilizations thrived in the Indus Valley by 2500 BCE, in China by 1500 BCE and in Central America, what is now Mexico, by 1200 BCE. Civilizations developed on every continent except Antarctica.

9. Civilization and History History is not only what happened in the past but how we think about what happened.

10. Early Civilization are in River Valleys - agriculture wise like the BIG 3: Ancient Egypt, Ancient Mesopotamia and Indus Valley…

11. Characteristics of Civilization (1) large population centers (2) monumental architecture and unique art styles; (3) written language; (4) systems for administering territories; (5) a complex division of labor; (6) the division of people into social classes

12. Development of Civilization Civilizations expand through : trade , war, and exploration.

13. Fall of Civilizations The reasons can be internal, such as conflict within the civilization. It can also be external, such as a natural disaster.

14. Why Civilizations Will Clash ? According to Huntington (1996) Civilization identity will be increasingly important in the future, and the world will be shaped in large measure by the interactions among seven or eight major civilizations. These include Western, Confucian, Japanese, Islamic, Hindu, Slavic-Orthodox, Latin American and possibly African civilization.

15. According to Huntington ( 1996) Why Civilizations Will Clash? First, differences among civilizations are not only real; they are basic. Civilizations are differentiated from each other by history, language, culture, and tradition and, most important, religion. Second, the world is becoming a smaller place. The interactions between peoples of different civilizations are increasing; these increasing interactions intensify civilization consciousness and awareness of differences between civilizations and commonalities within civilizations. Third, the processes of economic modernization and social change throughout the world are separating people from long-standing local identities.

16. Fourth, the growth of civilization-consciousness is enhanced by the dual role of the West. On the one hand, the West is at a peak of power. At the same time, however, and perhaps as a result, a return to the roots phenomenon is occurring among non-Western civilizations. Fifth, cultural characteristics and differences are less mutable and hence less easily compromised and resolved than political and economic ones. Finally, economic regionalism is increasing.

17. Huntington’s notion, …… that: In this new world the most pervasive, important, and dangerous conflicts is about between peoples belonging to different cultural entities. Tribal wars and ethnic conflicts will occur within civilizations. Violence between states and groups from different civilizations, however, carries with it the potential for escalation as other states and groups from these civilizations rally to the support of their "kin countries.

18. REFLECTIVE ANALYSIS ON PERSPECTIVE ON CIVILIZATION (1/4 Choose 2 and explain) Using the perspective of James Scott ( n.d ) Primitive –Tribal- Barbarians Civilization does not require a state… Large count of population The concept of food surplus Civilized living in the river valleys vs. Town vs country The Ethics of Gilgamesh from a heel to town the man joins civilization Army and Taxes Food Surplus and Food supply

19. Thank You! References: Samuel P. Huntington (1996) The Clash of Civilization and the Remaking of World Order James Scott (n. d) On Civilization