Western Civilization I / Unit 1 WC1 0002 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Civilization Defined: Surplus, Specialization, Writing
Captions available
The idea
The anchor defines civilization neutrally: agriculture, social specialization, slow technical progress, and sophistication in art, learning and belief. Specialization needs a food surplus, so farming comes first and priests, the first full-time thinkers, follow.
In practice
History studies written remains; archaeology studies the rest. History begins with writing.
Where people slip
The word once meant civilized against barbarian. The course uses the neutral definition only.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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