A civilization is a cluster of peoples, nations and empires so related
in time and space that they share certain ideas, practices, institutions
and means of procedure and survival. Among these features of a civilized
community we may list:
(1) means of communication, record-keeping, transportation
and trade. This would include a spoken language, a method
of enumeration, writing in pictographs or symbols; an
alphabet, a written language, inscribed on stone, bone,
wood, parchment, paper; means of preserving the records
of successive generations; paths, roads, bridges; a system
for educating successive generations; meeting places and
trading points; means for barter or exchange;
(2) an interdependent urban-oriented economy based on division
of labor and specialization; on private property in the
essential means of production and in consumer goods and
services; on a competitive survival struggle for wealth,
prestige and power between individuals and social groups;
and on the exploitation of man, society and nature for the
material benefit of the privileged few who occupy the summit
of the social pyramid;
(3) a unified, centralized political apparatus or bureaucracy
that attempts to plan, direct and administer the political,
economic, ideological and sociological structure;
(4) a self-selected and self-perpetuating oligarchy that owns
the wealth, holds the power and pulls the strings;
(5) an adequate labor force for farming, transport, industry,
mining;
(6) large middle-class elements: professionals, technicians,
craftsmen, tradesmen, lesser bureaucrats, and a semi-parasitic
fringe of camp-followers;
(7) a highly professional, well-trained, amply-financed apparatus
for defense and offense;
(8) a complex of institutions and social practices which will
indoctrinate, persuade and when necessary limit deviation
and maintain social conformity;
(9) agreed religious practices and other cultural features.
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