Final answer:
The main characteristics of a civilization are agricultural surplus, specialization of labor, social hierarchy, centralized government, urbanization, writing system, technological advancements, and complex institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Main Characteristics of a Civilization
- Agricultural Surplus: Early civilizations were able to produce and distribute surpluses of food, which allowed for larger settled populations.
- Specialization of Labor: With surplus food, some individuals were able to focus on tasks other than farming, such as manufacturing handicrafts, governing, and tending to the spiritual world.
- Social Hierarchy: Early civilizations had social classes and hierarchies, with a distinct division of labor and varying levels of wealth and power.
- Centralized Government: These civilizations had organized systems of governance and laws to regulate society and maintain order.
- Urbanization: Early civilizations were characterized by the growth of cities, with densely populated areas and increased social interactions.
- Writing System: Many early civilizations developed forms of writing to record information, laws, and cultural knowledge.
- Technological Advancements: Early civilizations made advancements in areas such as agriculture, architecture, and metallurgy, which contributed to their development and progress.
- Complex Institutions: These civilizations had established institutions like religious systems, legal systems, and economic systems that played important roles in society.
These are the main characteristics of a civilization as covered on pages 16 and 17.
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