History of the Ancient World - #5

[abe-no-seimei.livejournal.com]

History of the Ancient World
Thursday 12:30-3:30 pm

Seimei strolled in, sipping from his tea. At his desk, he assembled his scroll for the class discussion.

Discussion question:

Authorities do not all agree about the definition of civilization. Most accept the view that "a civilization is a culture which has attained a degree of complexity usually characterized by urban life." In other words, a civilization is a culture capable of sustaining a substantial number of specialists to cope with the economic, social, political, and religious needs of a populous society.

Discuss (in broad terms) some of the characteristics usually present in a civilization.

"You may also use this class time to work and research on the essay question due next Thursday."

Comments

[medusae-x.livejournal.com]

Duce slides into class, does her homework, and works on essay.

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

similar interests, customs and traditions can form the foundation of a culture which makes up the overall civilization. basic needs such as building near a water source can also be a main factor forming a civilization i.e. Egypt and the Nile which lead to the birth of civilization as we know it.

[persian-eunuch.livejournal.com]

*comes into class, very early since there was no study hall to occupy him*

Civilization characterized by accurate method of record keeping, organized governmental body, set of laws to live by. Also specialization in trade either barter or with currency. Basically civilization is group of people individually doing small part to fill most need and want of entire group.

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

Lee lists some characteristics:

1) Strong leadership where the military forces and the civilian governement have a strong diplomatic relationship.
2) A strong and efficient education system
3) A system of trade that works
4) An honor code system with values for the people to follow
5) A level of religiousity that aids life and the government

[wraithbaitjohn.livejournal.com]

One thing I'm not seeing here is how we differentiate one civilization from another.

Things like a common or dominant language. We're civilized, the Asgard are civilized, but we aren't the same civilization.

I would think some kind of codified law would also need to be present. It wouldn't have to be written, per se, but it would have to be systematic and universal to that civilization.

There's also those intangable, unwritten things like expected social conduct. Use silverware, not your fingers is expected in our culture, but not in all. Where I come from burping at the table is rude, in other cultures it's rude not to becuase it indicates you didn't like the food. Ask before you borrow something is essential in our culture, but in a culture with no concept of personal property this wouldn't apply. And you know, don't eat the neighbors is something you wouldn't think you'd have to spell out... but if you've been where I've been... These aren't *laws* as such, but they're expected behaviors and those differ from one civilization to the next.

*Having shown that he's not as flighty as many people think, John kicks back to play Sims for the rest of class*

[pure-blooddraco.livejournal.com]

Draco walks into class and begins to work on his essay.

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

A civilization shares a similar culture and language. There are cities and established trade. Also, there can be contact with other civilizations.

[other-logan.livejournal.com]

Logan works on his essay

[soniabelmont.livejournal.com]

Vell, I suppose there's alvays some sort of ruling or governing body- but even zis can vary greatly between different civilizations. Um. That is, you have the pre-Renaissance idea of a civilization, vhere a king or noble has superior rule, vith some lower class of nobility falling underneath them and who are responsible for smaller sections of that state. Serfs and slaves vurk the land, vhile boyars nobility have the job of protecting the vurking class. There is really no concept of a middle class.

However, if vun looks forward not a hundred years, ve can see zis concept changing rapidly. As countries become vealthy, and farming technology improves, less people are needed to vurk the land. As such, ve see a rise in the number of skilled tradesmen and academics, who can now afford to do something *besides* farm vithout vurrying about starving. Now ve are in the Renaissance, a period vhen ideas about civilization, society, and people as individuals vill begin to change qvite drastically.

Erm...I hope zat's something along the lines of an appropriate answer.

((OOC: I don't even know if that makes sense, but i'm studying pre-Renaissance and Reformation Europe, and it at least sounds good enough. :D ))

[abe-no-seimei.livejournal.com]

((ooc: *laugh* It looks good to me. These questions are coming out of the ether so half the time I hope they are sounding at least reasonable.))