A civilization is a complex human society that has certain characteristics of cultural and technological development. It is a large group of people who share certain advanced ways of living and working, and it is characterized by the development of the state, social stratification, urbanization, and symbolic systems of communication beyond natural spoken language. Civilizations came about as humans started living in cities, and the earliest civilizations developed in river valleys because the land there was good for farming.

The key components of civilization include:

• Urban areas: Cities are the centers of civilization, and they are characterized by dense populations, shared methods of communication, and administrative centers.

• Surplus food and economic stability: The rise of agriculture and trade allowed people to have surplus food and economic stability, which allowed a diverse array of professions and interests to flourish in a relatively confined area.

• Government administration: All civilizations rely on government administration, bureaucracy, and complex divisions of labor, where different people perform specialized tasks.

• Cultural and technological development: Civilizations tend to develop intricate cultures, including a state-based decision-making apparatus, a literature, professional art, architecture, and advanced religious practices.

Civilizations have developed on every continent except Antarctica, and they have risen and fallen throughout history.