create your own civilization essay

Worldbuilding societies: How to create a civilization

In novel-writing, world building is an important concept, especially in genres such as fantasy and science fiction that explore alternate worlds. Good world building questions will help you create a detailed and immersive world. Here are some questions to ask:

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How to create a civilization - world building questions | Now Novel

First, what do we mean by ‘civilization’?

The word ‘civilization’ is problematic. Historically, social groups have used it to dominate others. A first definition is ‘The stage of human social development and organization which is considered the most advanced.’ ( OED) This is the definition used historically (and still used) to describe some as ‘less civilized’ than others, for the sake of exploitation or domination.

The second definition is the one this series of world building questions will use. This defines civilization as ‘the society, culture, and way of life of a particular area’. ( OED )

This second definition does not talk about civilization in terms of ‘progress’. It describes it as differing according to geographic and other influencing factors.

So what questions will help you build a fictional civilization?

1: Where does your civilization live – how does environment shape it?

A seaside fictional town has different circumstances for economy, trade and travel to a land-locked one. It’s military, for example, will include naval forces.

Some world building questions to ask about environment :

What are the main geographic features of regions in your fictional world (e.g. mountains, rivers, forests, grasslands)? How do these shape people’s livelihoods?
Reverse the above: How do people’s livelihoods affect their environment? For example, in a town bordering a forest, excessive logging could lead to environmental changes and challenges
How does your civilization’s environment impact on their relations with other groups? For example, mountain-dwelling people less accessible to casual travelers might have more insular traditions and cultural practices than a cosmopolitan, diverse border city
What are the biggest strengths and drawbacks of your civilization’s environment? For example, people inhabiting an arid climate may be particularly vulnerable to drought

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Return of the King (1955) gives a good example of the ways environment can shape a people’s shared situation.

Towards the end of the novel [skip this paragraph to avoid plot spoilers], the adventuring Hobbits return to The Shire to discover destructive industrialization underway. A dark force is felling trees fast. A greedy Hobbit who has made himself ‘The Boss’ is overseeing the project.

Destruction of the environment brings misery to the Hobbits, and thus the story’s protagonists must restore order and peace to The Shire. Here, Tolkien shows the negative effects that result when self-interested individuals take over shared, communal environments and ignore the impact of their choices.

Besides environment, ‘leadership’ and ‘power’ are useful categories to discuss when asking world building questions to create societies:

2: How are leadership and power organized in your world?

Many epic fantasies draw on medieval times, telling stories of Kings and Queens.

In a modern or futuristic novel, leadership and power may be more bureaucratic. Think, for example, of J.K. Rowling’s ‘Ministry of Magic’ in her Harry Potter series. It enables Rowling to satirize the workings of our own bureacracies.

Here are some questions to ask about social and political power in your civilization:

What leadership systems dominate your world? For example, do some territories have monarchies while others have elected governments or military dictatorships?
What pros and cons does your world’s political system hold for your characters? For example, a totalitarian state harshly limits its citizens personal and political freedoms
Are people content with ruling leadership systems or is there widespread dissatisfaction, even a brewing rebellion? If they are content, why? If not, why not?
How could your characters’ arcs fit into this larger social canvas? Are characters in your story politically aware and involved? Aware but indifferent/passive? Completely unaware?

George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) is a good example for how to create a civilization’s governing system, since government and power are so central to the story.

In the novel, the English Socialist Party (‘Ingsoc’) has created a totalitarian, all-powerful state. Constant surveillance ensures people comply with the government’s strict, controlling laws. Children are brainwashed with propaganda from young.

Orwell’s premise – an all-controlling, totalitarian government taking over England – has great world building potential. For example, the government creates the ‘Ministry of Peace’ that (ironically) deals with war and defence.

These details combine to create a world full of irony and satirical of modern politics and the increased power of the state.

Ray Bradbury quote civilization | Now Novel

Also ask questions about power at a smaller scale, for example personal identity and how people engage around it:

3: What identities do people conform to or challenge?

A patriarchal world where men have more rights and power is different to a world of Amazonian warrior women leaders. Identity is a key aspect of world building.

Some questions to ask when creating a culture from scratch;

Are gender and sex in your world binary (i.e. male/female or an invented equivalent) or non-binary (multiple/no genders)? Is gender an important aspect of your civilization’s cultural practices or irrelevant?
Are there national or cultural stereotypes? Do your characters believe widely held stereotypes or challenge them? How do characters in different cultures see other cultures in your world?
What are dominant cultural norms and practices? What is culturally acceptable to each group in your world and what is taboo/forbidden?
Are there primary cultural values your civilization shares? For example, in Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea (1968), wizards are called to value balance in their world. To do this they must use language and names (which hold great power) carefully

A good example for thinking through the world building questions above is Ursula K. Le Guin’s celebrated science fiction novel, The Left Hand of Darkness (1969).

Le Guin’s protagonist Genly Ai travels from his home planet Terra to the planet ‘Gethen’. His mission: to convince Gethen’s inhabitants to join a confederation of planets called ‘the Ekumen’.

Gethen’s people do not have fixed biological sex. Instead, they are sexually indistinguishable for 24 days of each 26-day lunar cycle. For a two-day period each cycle, they become either male or female (which they become is not fixed).

Le Guin shows how identity politics and larger power and culture affect each other. She describes a world where seduction and sexual violence are both equally uncommon due to the absence of rigid, power-inflected gender dynamics. (Gethen’s inhabitants also share social roles of raising children.)

Le Guin’s world’s unique situation enables her to show the social effects and complexities arising from a people’s specific shared attributes. The novel also explores the difficulty Genly Ai faces in communicating with the planet’s inhabitants due to his own ‘sexed’ vantage point.

4: What are core features of your civilization’s past and future?

If you’re creating your own fictional civilization, your story might take place in a fixed, limited time period, or you might want to show your civilization’s development over a longer period.

Whatever the time-scale of your story, it’s helpful to develop a little history .

Even if you don’t use the material, coming up with key events in your characters’ collective pasts (or futures) will help you find your characters’ values and shared cultural reference points.

For example, in a fictional world (such as George R. R. Martin’s Westeros) where war and conflict over territory are common, it helps to brainstorm key historic battles or power struggles and how they shaped your world.

Questions to develop civilizational change

Some world building questions to ask:

How did/will your civilization develop? Is it at a point of increasing or decreasing social stability and peace, for example?
What core details in the past (conflicts, discoveries, encounters with other peoples) shaped your civilization?
What does the future look like for your characters? Is their society moving towards a Utopian age or is hardship and strife worsening? What is driving either change? (E.g. foolhardy environmental destruction)

For example, George R. R. Martin’s successful epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire establishes historical watershed moments driving his civilization early.

Victor Hugo quote - Civilization | Now Novel

In the first novel, A Game of Thrones (1996), we learn that three centuries before the events of the first novel the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros were united under one king. A rebellion led by Robert Baratheon 15 years prior to the start of the first novel, however, resulted in the last of the Targaryen kings being killed.

Through Martin’s world building, we thus have a sense of a rich, complex history of ruling dynasties and bloody rebellions. The stage is set for further political intrigues and bloodshed as different families battle for power.

Read 300 questions for building fictional worlds for further brainstorming about who, what, why, where and when.

Develop your own civilization and larger fictional world. Start now by brainstorming details of plot, setting and character that will give life to your story.

Cover source image by Lena Bell

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Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town.

8 replies on “Worldbuilding societies: How to create a civilization”

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[…] we get into the tips portion of this post, I want to give J.S. Morin, Novel-Software, and NowNovel credit for the questions you’ll find […]

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Thank you for your feedback, Wafa, and for reading our blog.

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HISTORY WITH BRETT

Design a civilization.

In this project, you will:

Design your own ideal civilization

Learn about the world's first civilizations, using primary and secondary source documents

Write a compare and contrast analysis about your civilization and the world's first civilizations

Discover six of the world's first civilizations by clicking the links below!

Architecture

Social class, drugs & alcohol, burials & graves, warfare & conflict, gender fluidity, money & trade, music & games, jewelry & makeup.

Click on any of the themes to learn about this topic in six of the oldest ancient civilizations

Click on any of the icons to see all of the documents about each civilization

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13.7 Cosmos & Culture

How do you make a civilization.

Skyline in the city of Boston, Massachusetts.

The number of potentially habitable planets in the universe is crazy big ( 10 billion trillion ).

With all those worlds, it seems pretty reasonable to suppose that life will get started on some of them. And, going further, evolution will then do its work — leading some species all the way up to forms of tool-building intelligence.

But given an intelligent species — think apes or even birds or octopus — what does it take to make the transition up to a civilization?

The emergence of civilizations from the backdrop of an intelligent species is a critical question, if you're thinking about life in the universe. But it's also a fascinating question from the standpoint of what's called " complexity theory " — and that's the approach my collaborators and I are taking in a new project.

There are lots of ways to think about a civilization. If you focus on human beings, then you'll want to include their psychology and sociology. You may even need to include aspects of their biology (i.e. reproductive strategies). But if you want to consider the problem from its most general point of view, then you might want to think about civilizations purely as a network.

A network is nothing more than a group of objects (called nodes) and the links between them. Everyone is familiar with social networks — your friends and their friends and their friends, and so on. The bigger a network is the more complex it becomes, with links blossoming into a rich, dense, spider web of connections between the nodes.

Any population of intelligent creatures on any planet would, by definition, form a network. The only way they could not be a network would be if they had no interaction with each other (no links). In that case, it's hard to imagine how they might end up forming a civilization. So the question then becomes: What exactly does it take to transform a bunch of intelligent social organisms, with more rudimentary forms of interaction, into something more complex and rich — like a city with its highly ordered interactions?

The cool thing about asking the questions in terms of networks (or what is known as " network theory ") is it should allow us to ask questions about civilizations in generic ways. In that case, we could skip speculating about alternative sociologies. After all, who the heck knows how creatures on Altair IV might deal with issues like morality or religion?

But maybe, just maybe, by focusing on the nature of their interactions in a network framework we might be able to see how those creatures on Altair IV became a civilization. What that means is we could explore how broad classes of social structures that are possibly needed for civilizations — like certain kinds of hierarchies — emerge on their own from simple rules about nodes and links. And what we really want to know is: Might this kind of emergence of structure be generic? That would mean it's relatively independent of the specifics of any particular species that's grown from having just intelligence to full civilization-building.

Now it is possible that the details of biology and evolutionary history are so deeply imprinted in each species that there are no generic rules for how civilizations emerge. That's something we're watching out for as we complete this work. But the beauty of networks and complexity science is that they offer the hope of, and a path towards, seeing the underlying patterns even in nature's richest creations.

Adam Frank is a co-founder of the 13.7 blog, an astrophysics professor at the University of Rochester, a book author and a self-described "evangelist of science." You can keep up with more of what Adam is thinking on Facebook and Twitter: @adamfrank4

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RESOURCES FOR BUSY TEACHERS

Julie Blackmore

Beyond Textbooks: Create Your Own Civilization Project for a Hands-on History Experience

Create-Your-Own Civilization Middle School Project Creative Social Studies

Delve into a world where history is not just learned, but lived and created! The Create-Your-Own Civilization Project is an enthralling journey into the past, meticulously designed for Social Studies or History curricula.

Through this engaging unit project, students or pairs are empowered to create their own civilization, forging a rich connection between abstract historical components and tangible, creative expression.

This immersive experience is an exciting conduit for students to demonstrate their grasp of the intricate parts that thread together an organized civilization, extending an invitation to explore, innovate, and synthesize knowledge in a student-paced setting.

This unit project is meticulously structured to unfurl a canvas of imaginative exploration while maintaining a rigorous academic framework. It mirrors the vibrant tapestry of our historical narrative, ensuring each young scholar not only grasps the fundamentals but appreciates the profound intricacies and interconnections within and among civilizations.

The quest to create your own civilization instills a deep-seated understanding of social, economic, and political structures, enhancing not just memorization, but comprehension and application. It sparks a unique blend of individual and collaborative learning, encouraging both self-paced exploration and a community of discourse among budding historians.

This is a Social Studies or History unit project that involves each student (or student pairs) creating their own civilization using their knowledge of the parts of an organized civilization. It is totally creative, student-paced, fun and at the same time rigorous.

Middle School Create-Your-Own Civilization Project with No Prep? No Problem!

Best part of this comprehensive project kit? It requires no prep ! This file provides an outline-style packet that allows students to be as creative as they want to be, but all the while using their knowledge of what a civilization is, and what makes up a civilization. This is a perfect complement to an early man unit, early civilization unit, summer school curriculum, or project-based learning curriculum.

Printable Project Packet for a More Hands-On Project Experience

An easy-to-use, printable version of the outline-style packet to guide students in the creation of their very own civilization!

The project guides students through planning their civilization's location, geography, typical clothing, religion, agriculture, economy, and so much more! The ability to be creative combined with civilization study is unmatched.

Editable PowerPoint Files for Easy Customization!

All of the pages within the project are provided as PowerPoint files as well, which allows you to edit them any way you need to. This is completely optional, and usually not necessary, but its always nice to have that ability if you need it!

Digital Version Make it Easy to Do Completely Online or Virtually

A digital version, optimized for Google Slides, allows you to assign this project completely digitally. This would mean students could research, complete, and even create a final presentation all via computer. In my experience, I usually present the project both digitally and with a paper packet, allowing students to choose the method that feels most comfortable for them.

Grading Rubric Provides Student Guidance and Easy Grading for Teachers

I've always believed in giving students access to the actual rubric I would be using to grade their projects before they even begin. That way, they have an idea of what is expected from them and their grade shouldn't be a surprise when they receive it. Whether you choose to do that or not is totally up to you- and either way, this grading rubric makes it quick and easy to assess each student's finished project easily and objectively!

With this Create-Your-Own Civilization Project, your classroom will morph into a dynamic incubator of ideas where ancient civilizations are reborn through the fresh, imaginative lens of the learners. The interactive nature of this project enriches the academic environment, making learning a lively, enjoyable, and meaningful endeavor. This project is not merely a lesson in history, but a homage to the unbound potential of young minds when ignited by the whims of creativity and the rigor of historical inquiry.

Embark on a historical voyage with your students as they create their own civilization, nurturing not just knowledge, but the curiosity and creativity that are the hallmarks of enduring learning.

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191 Civilization Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best civilization topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on civilization, 🎓 most interesting civilization topics to write about, 💡 simple & easy civilization essay titles, ✍️ civilization essay topics for college, ❓ questions about civilization.

Mesopotamian Civilization The history of this great land can be traced through looking at the history of different people who occupied it who included the Sumerians, the Akkadians, the Amorites, the Hitites, the Kassites, the Assyrians, and […]
The Ancient Mayan Civilization The political-social organization of the Maya was hierarchical with a king, nobles and priests on top and the common people and slaves on the bottom.
Society, Culture, and Civilization Thus, culture is a flexible feature of non-animal communities that penetrates their subsistence and helps to adjust to the surroundings. The last concept, civilization, is the consequence of the constant changes of the first two […]
The River Nile and Its Contribution to Ancient Egyptian Civilization The source of the river remained a mystery to the early inhabitants of ancient Egypt for a considerable amount of time.
Comparison of Sumerian and Egyptian Civilization The most important similarity, which also explains the prosperity of the Sumerians and Egyptians, is the territory and environment. Some similarities can be traced to the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians and the Sumerians.
Factors That Influenced Development on Human Civilization Some of the ancient trading activities included the exchange of food crops which led to development of agriculture in various territories.”Ideas also spread and developed through trading activities”. At this time many people were concerned […]
Civilization in Ancient Egypt The civilization of ancient Egypt happened at the same time Mesopotamian civilization was taking place in other areas in the nations of the Akkadians, Babylonians and the Sumerians. Indeed, religion in ancient Egypt led to […]
Environmental Factors in the Emergence of the Egyptian Civilization Importantly, the physical composition of the land and natural resources alongside artifacts of ancient Egypt had a substantial impact on the country’s growth and development.
The Aztec Civilization and Its Attributes The Pipiltin were referred to as the nobles in the Aztec society. Macehualtin were the vast majority of the commoners in the Mexica Empire.
Early Civilization in Africa Analysis Therefore, the study of complex societies has risen in popularity to investigate the formation of states separately from the concept of urbanization. The evidence of African civilization enables anthropologists and archeologists to better understand the […]
Islamic Culture and Civilization In such a way, the objective of this paper is to analyze the crucial milestones of Islamic culture and civilization in relations to its achievements in the fields of both sciences and humanities.
Alexander the Great: A Pioneer of Western Civilization Alexander the Great used the Roman Empire to spread Greek civilization to Europe and the rest of the world. The Greek Macedonian Empire that was established by Alexander the Great extended to many parts of […]
Socrates’ Impact on Western Civilization Socrates defined the concepts of evil and good, assuming the achievement of the goals of self-knowledge as the highest virtue. In disputes, Socrates sought to prove the practicality and reasonableness of the world and a […]
Critics of Modern Civilization in India Gandhi says that, he decided to examine further, the nature of British colonialism, and he realized the cause of all the problems was the modern civilization.
Civilization and Barbarism in Modern Culture But even he failed to foresee the tragic consequences of the development of these institutions1.”There is no document of civilization which is not also a document of barbarism”.
The Inca Civilization’s Religious Beliefs While Individual sacrifice was shared in the Incan religion, giving special status to the formation of stones, these religious beliefs of the Inca people influenced the architectural designs of Machu Pichu and the way of […]
Ashoka Pillars: The Mystery of the Ancient Civilization One of the most incredible creations of the ancient civilizations, the Ashoka Pillar is the reminiscence of the bygone times and the most incredible specimen of the ancient art.
The Impact of Homer’s Epics on Modern Civilization On the other hand, Ancient Greece is considered the first global civilization because it was in this part of the world that the concept of worldview was first conceived.’The Iliad’ and the Odyssey discuss events […]
Technology Impact on Human Civilization Despite the large amount of information that the internet provides to people, research shows that the internet may have a negative effect on the intellectual ability of an individual. The use of technological devices may […]
Ancient Greek Civilization: Culture and Arts To begin with, the earliest period of Greek history was the Bronze, and it is characterized by the usage and production of essential tools and the formation of two civilizations, which further contributed to the […]
The Impact of Ancient Greek Civilization and Architecture on Modern Culture The connection between ancient Greek architecture and modern culture in the United States is evident because of the presence of similar constructions and continuous use of terms that originated from that civilization.
Alexander the Great: Western Civilization The spread of the Greek language to other parts of the world was due to the introduction of the Macedonian culture to the Persian Empire.
Technology and Innovation: Western Civilization History The people living in the Western world were stuck in the innovation and technology that was available in the Medieval Age.
Male Dominance in Sumerian Civilization The Civilization in Sumer was the first in the world starting from the early Bronze Age. The women here had the authority over the religious group and were held in high esteem.
Race and History: Cheikh Anta Diop “Civilization or Barbarism” One of the ways to study ancient communities is to analyze the remains of their culture. Diop refers to the findings of M.
The Internet as the Heart of Modern Civilization The world has witnessed the increasing benefits of the internet through the quality and frequency of human interaction and interpersonal relations.
Freedom and the Role of Civilization The achievements demonstrated by Marx and Freud play a significant role in the field of sociology and philosophy indeed; Marx believed in the power of labor and recognized the individual as an integral part of […]
Remaking Manhood Through Race and Civilization Bederman said that aside from the fact that race and gender is the most important requirement to open doors of opportunities it is not enough to be male to ascend to the top of the […]
The Knitting Relic: Women, Art, and Western Civilization The lady’s actions show knitting’s role and centrality in delivering Normandy and granting success and a sense of accomplishment to the western world.
Asian Civilization Formation Process It is clear that such factors as the comparative isolation of China, the religious influences, the dynasty form of political order, and the peculiarities of trade relations and overlordship over the Silk Way contributed to […]
Civilization and Its Historical Roots Because of this convoluted history, it is difficult for academics to define a civilization, and the current definition is continually evolving.
World Civilization History: Food Preservation Using Conventional and Modern Methods Thus, the capacity to investigate possibilities and take advantage of them is the significant similarity between human growth and evolution in primitive times and the modern world.
Western Civilization: Philosophies and Sciences Western civilization is the body of art, literature, culture, and timeless concepts that originated in the eastern Mediterranean in the pre-Common Era during the 17 to 19th centuries.
Aspects of the Islamic Civilization Islamic culture declined as a result of attacks by the Crusaders, the Mongols, the collapse of Andalusia, and internal issues within the Islamic world, but it recovered under the Safavids, the Ottomans, and the Gurkhanis […]
Islamic Civilization and Culture: The 7th Century The 7th Century marked the beginning of the implementation of trade and tax measures as defining elements of the Muslim state as the centralized empire began its transformation into a nominal confederation.
The Ancient Greek Culture Impact on Western Civilization The most significant public structures in the city were gathered around the temple in the city’s center, which served as the power headquarters.
Alexander the Great: The First Superhero of Western Civilization Thus, despite the irrefutable victories of Alexander the Great, it is difficult to call him the first true superhero of Western civilization because of the methods to which he resorted.
Can the Greeks Be Considered a Single Civilization? The concept of a single Greek civilization arose during the time of the Romans, who called all the tribes in the west of the Balkan Peninsula Greeks; The Greeks themselves called their country Hellas and […]
The Impact of Labor Exploitation on Egypt Civilization Furthermore, the remnants of the greatness of Ancient Egypt’s ruler were preserved in the great pyramids, still present in the modern world.
The Dark Ages Concept in Western Civilization The meaning of the concept of the Dark Ages has long been a subject of widespread misunderstanding among people that mistakenly attribute the title to a presumed atmosphere of overwhelming darkness and social collapse.
Ancient History of Greek Civilization In ancient Greece, the body was the material means of constructing and transmitting social values; the body’s visual representation exemplified the moral codes of the time.
Greco-Roman Culture in Western Civilization One of such elements was Roman names, the dissemination of which may be explained by the existence of networks of exchange and the sense of identity of name bearers.
Ashanti, Cherokee, and Latin American Civilization: Comparative Analysis As such, in the essay, several civilizations are compared: the Ashanti civilization of West Africa in 1600 AD, the Latin American civilization in 1800 AD, and the Cherokee civilization of North America in 1700 AD.
Boats and Ships in National Museum of Egyptian Civilization The visit to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization was a great addition to the themes learned in class. The observed artifacts demonstrate the peculiarities of life and culture of the Egyptian people.
Individual From a World Civilization Biographical Analysis: Confucius This paper aims to analyze the life and teachings of Confucius, as well as his significant impact on the history of China and the whole world.
History of Art in Early Civilization On the other hand, the Virgin of compassion icon was a Byzantine icon portraying the Virgin and Child as subject matter. On the contrary, the painting was used as a style of artwork in the […]
Effects of Islamic Civilization: Asia and Africa The Battle of Talas in 751 between the Abbasid Caliphate and the Chinese Tang Dynasty for control of Central Asia was the turning point initiating mass conversion into Islam in the region.
Civilization Loss and Effect of Modern Technologies Overexposure to contemporary technologies causes a disconnect between the environment and people, leading to a lack of empathy to participate in good causes such as conserving the environment.
Modern Civilization Is Not a Perfect Development Instead of upholding the moral norms of a perfect culture advancement, the current definition of social growth is retrogressively built along the lines of the socio-economic and political agenda of major influential powers.
Civilization’s ‘Blooming’ and Liberty Relationship However, with many new regulations and great effort, the issue of racism has decreased and led the country to develop and ‘bloom.’ Thus, the phrase from How Enfranchisement Stops Lynching, “the flower of the nineteenth […]
Natural Law and Christian Civilization The philosophical attempts to find a suitable way the development of humanity resulted in the emergence of the theory of natural law.
Islamic Civilization and the Development of Astronomy Get this: In the formation of the heavens and the world; in the night and day variation; in the voyage of ships around the globe for the sake of humanity; in the rain that Allah […]
Civilization History in the West in 19th Century The 19th century western philosophy was characterized by a strong inclination to refer to elements of human feeling and imagination at the expense of human reason.
Ancient Civilizations in Western Europe The Celts have been reported to have been diverse. Their empire has been reported to have spanned the European continent.
Arab Civilization. Mediating Religion and Government Also, Islam, which is the religion of the majority of members of the Arab community, is being heavily criticized in media and by some political leaders.
The History of the Third Punic War: The Final War in the Series of Wars With the Carthaginian Civilization From the viewpoint of the Roman Republic, the necessity of the final Punic War was linked to the need for additional measures to fully destroy Carthage’s military and financial capabilities and prevent it from effective […]
Reaction Report About Islamic Civilization Charity should be sincere, voluntary, and confidential in order not to reveal either the identity of the giver or the identity of the poor.
The Cold War: Gains and Losses The United States was one of the countries that took part in the Cold War; it also involved itself in Space Race. The formation of alliances among the nations involved in the Cold War contributed […]
Culture and Early Civilization: Major Forces of a New Culture Civilization, on the other hand, refers to the transition of these cultural ways over generations to complexity and modernization. Because of the increased population, people developed the art of agriculture to avoid long distances in […]
Culture of the Chinese Civilization Before 1400 CE At around 200 BC, there was the construction of the Great Wall of China, and improvement of the trade relations which involved Asia and the Roman Empire, and the use of architecture in the design […]
Roman Civilization, Christianity, and Judaism The growth and success of Christianity came from the conversion and patronage of Constantine. The early Christians of Rome were received with contempt and suspicion.
Ancient Civilization of Rome and Athens The city of Rome and the city of Athens had great influence and authority over their neighbors and allies. The city of Athens had great influence throughout the Aegean and the influence lasted for about […]
Roman Civilization and Its Military Power The Roman Empire used the first systems of the republic to conquer a lot but for the interest of a few who included those living within the cities as well as those who were close […]
Comparison of Classical Greek Civilization With Others in the Near East This led to the death of many young people in the nation which resulted in one of the failures for them to reach the standards of the Romans of establishing an empire.
History Development of Western Civilization Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is a document that consists of 17 articles that were approved on the 26th of August in 1789 by the National Assembly of France.
Significant Achievements of the Islamic Civilization The sort of political and trade framework that came into existence after the advent of this religion resulted in the provision of a legal order that the Arabs had no former experience of and hence, […]
Western Civilization: Term Definition In the development of art and literature the period of Middle Ages is closely connected with the formation and promotion of European literature.
Hellenic Society Versus Hellenistic Civilization The comparison of both epochs in the history of ancient Greece is a way to demonstrate the growth of the social, political, and religious relations in the society.
Wilderness and Civilization: Thoreau’s Concept He goes on to describe the temperature as perfectly attuned to his own sense of correct feeling, the sounds of the bullfrogs and whippoorwills as just the right note for the moment and the breathless […]
Images of Women in Western Civilization Although it is true that the primary and predominant role of women have been to look after the children and the household, it is also necessary that they also need to indulge in primarily creative […]
Human Factor and Anthropometric in Islamic Civilization Moreover, the structure of the paper is varied in the determination of design, space, and human implementation of actions understood in a close connection toward facilitation of work and usage of ergonomic decisions in living […]
The Meaning of Civilization According to Williams and Gandhi The writings of Williams and Gandhi are so divergent that it clearly points to the chasm in perceptions of a western mind and an eastern construct.
Western Civilization in Which the Greeks Contributed The Greek civilization impresses by its originality and incontestability in the manners of people and in a number of philosophers who made a great impact on the further flow of scientific thought.
The History of Russian Civilization In order for civilization to come by there has to be ordered in a country. In most cases, most of their husbands had been executed and the wives were taken to these camps.
Insects and Civilization: Vector-Borne Diseases The latter groups consist of diseases transmitted from a vector as a result of a pest or insect bite that may contain the virus or the bacteria that cause the infection.
Economy in Classic Maya Civilization Since the soft obsidian rock that was used in the making of the weapons was found in the Southern region and as a result, the people in the South were in a better position to […]
Western Civilization: The Opium Wars The affinity of millions of Chinese for opium directly affected the security of foreign interests in China. At the end of the second opium war, China was forced to ratify the Treaty of Tientsin in […]
Western Civilization to 1648: Historical Analysis The Marxists claimed that only material production made a human out of a monkey and connected all the stages of the historical development with the levels of the development of economy.
Western Civilization: Ancient Greek Theater However, the modern theater has become more commercialized and has become a potential arena of political, social, and cultural discourses, increasingly involving the masses.”Theatre, which had been dominated by the Church for centuries, and then […]
Western Civilization: The Olympic Games’ History Ancient Greeks held strict moral and ethical codes while conducting the Olympics because it was not just a competition for them; it was a glorification of the true ideals, valor, and gallantry of an athlete. […]
India Civilization and Islam Civilization: Comparison Hinduism and Buddhism and raised based on their different religious and philosophical system had an impact not only on the development of many civilizations of the East but all over the world.
Life as a Soldier During the Roman Civilization The following paragraphs describe the characteristics of the Roman Civilization. This was the main entertainment of the Roman Civilization.
Cherokee Indian Belief: Gateway to Modern Civilization The Cherokee learned the art of combat war from the Europeans and they used the same tactics later on to attack their neighbors in the frontiers.
Liberalism and Nationalism in Western Civilization The concepts of liberalism and nationalism are typically a western construct of rational, reasoning, objective, and analytical traditions which have their origins in the Greek civilization, the world’s first progenitors of city-states and democracies.
French Civilization: Burgundian Influence The independence of the duke of Burgundy greatly influenced the personality of Louis XI from the time his father Charles VII was king, Louis intrigued with his father and he was sent off to […]
Western Civilization in the Middle Ages The following events in the course of the European countries’ development give us a way to state that there was a time of chaos and instability during the period under consideration: The decay of the […]
Ancient Civilization of Rome Through innovation, town planning was very important in Rome, the roman in the city plans considered factors like the climate, purpose of the town, and the environment.
Arguments for Western Civilization This plague started in the continent of Asia and then spread to other parts of the world including Europe. Back in the ancient days, it was quite monotonous and people ate because they had to […]
Modern Moral Conditions of Western Civilization Review This sin is so wide-spread and rooted in the nature of the moderns that it is difficult to find appropriate punishment.
Contribution of Education as the Aspect of Civilization Perhaps, the philosophy of Aristotle can be stated as the providing a support of the impacts of education of the society and the individual person.
European Civilization During the High Middle Ages During this period of time, most of Europe and the British Isles experienced a period of dynamic growth and recovery from incessant warfare.
Classical Civilization 1000 BC-AD500 The order and clarity of Latin were decisive in the transmission of the rudiments of culture, in the organization and discipline of the Church, in law and administration, so that when a Norman King says […]
Minoan Civilization and Its Collapse in 1450 BC There was a strong influence of the Minoan palace culture that was greatly affected by the earthquakes that took place in that area most of the time, and therefore it became hard as the palaces […]
Modern Western Civilization: The Renaissance Besides the highly valuable narrative of past events and great historic movements, the motives of the AP Program in European History include the development of: The understanding of fundamental themes in the European History.
Chinese Civilization During the Middle Ages The Silk Road joined the Asian countries and the West and created new opportunities for knowledge exchange and the proliferation of new ideas.
The Ancient Near East: Civilization of Mesopotamia and Great Flood The Great Flood in Genesis and the Epic of Gilgamesh both depict the flood, the boat, the God of gods, and persons responsible for preserving humanity.
Roman Civilization’ Analysis This paper will describe the Roman civilization, some important moments in its history, and how it interacted with Islamic civilization. Some of the most important parts of Roman history are related to the changes in […]
The Indus Valley Civilization’s Development For example, both the region of the Indus Valley and the area near such bodies of water as the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers can be considered as cradles of early civilization.
Civilization in XIX Century and Cold War Even though it might appear to be nonsense, the fact of the matter is that there is more truth in the words of this unknown man than we, people living in the twenty-first century, might […]
The Civilization of North America The first signs of development in Central America emerged in the second millennium with the emergence of Olmec culture, in swampy and hot lowlands along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, South of Veracruz.
Banks in the Islamic Civilization: Past and Present The understanding of the problems Islamic banks faced in the past and the consideration of the solutions in the comparison with the modern problems and decisions may help consider a streaming development of Islamic banking […]
The Mayan Civilization in Diamond’s Theory According to Diamond’s theory, the rapid growth of the Mayan civilization resulted in the maximization of its population and the need for more food, which, eventually, caused overhunting, overfishing, deforestation, and destruction the soil.
Ancient Anasazi and Their Civilization Nevertheless, remains of farmsteads and hamlets point to the active involvement of the Anasazi in construction and agriculture and trade with neighboring communities.
“Black Friday: Consumerism Minus Civilization” by Leonard This author likes to investigate numerous positive and negative aspects of Black Friday in order not to define the outcome of the event, but to explain that it is possible to have both normal and […]
Mayan Civilization’s Disappearance Therefore, the drought theory could be considered as the most reasonable for explaining the Mayan civilization’s disappearance mystery. Two most reasonable hypotheses of Mayan civilization’s disappearance were examined: the drought theory and the environmental theory.
Delicate Web of Civilization Development Thus, the specific approach toward nature, the perception of it as a resource that could be exploited and that is not a part of the society led to the development of capitalism.
“How the Irish Saved Civilization” by Cahill The book under analysis informs the reader about how the Irish intentions to migrate but never forget the power of knowledge and the role of books in their lives saved civilization and brought love to […]
“World Civilization” a Book by Kevin Reilly Kevin Reilly is the author of the text “The Sadler Report of the House of Commons” in the book “World Civilization”.
Homo Sapiens, Their Features and Early Civilization Another feature of the skull of Homo neanderthalensis was the possession of a protuberant mid-facial region, which was an outstanding feature that differentiated the species from the rest of the sapiens.
Chinese Civilization During the Han Dynasty The history of the Han emperors, their conquering prowess, system of administration, scholars, innovators, entrepreneurs, and the common people represented emergence of a great Chinese culture. The success of the system prompted the government to […]
Iranian Civilization, History and Islamic Rebirth All the members of the Shi’a Islam are convinced that Ali, the son-in-law to Mohammed, ought to have risen to the caliphate after the death of the prophet.
Egyptian Civilization’s History The occupation of the Nile Valley by the Romans in 31 BC marked the beginning of change in the culture of the Egyptians.
The Great Leap Forward: Societies in Early Mesopotamia Chavalas presents the notion that one of the drawbacks behind the hunter and gatherer stage that existed prior to the development of complex and stratified societies was the lack of sufficient concentrations of native populations.
Arab and Islamic History: Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization The rapid spread of Islam in the world incorporated inhabitants of Islamic civilization and non-believers who resided in the same evolution.
City Artifacts: Urban Civilization Development Eastside Heritage Center The image in question can be interpreted as a hint at the possibility of the sustainable use of natural resources by the residents of the city.
Arab Scientists’ Contribution to World Civilization The development of arts and sciences, as well as old science in Islamic the empire, is explained by the inquisitive and speculative nature of the Arab people from long ago.
Roman Lifestyles’ Influence on Civilization For instance, the case of Lucretia indicates the perception of the ancient Romans on the matter. The instance of moral decadence within the contemporary America is similar to that in the ancient Rome.
The Mayan Civilization’s Disappearance In spite of the fact the Mayan civilization disappeared many centuries ago, the mystery of the sudden fall of the successful and developed civilization which cultural achievements are still examined and discussed as significant ones […]
Eros and Civilization by Herbert Marcuse In its turn, this is the direct consequence of the fact that, in order for this civilization to remain on the path of progress, in the linear sense of this word, it may never cease […]
Documentary “The Decline of Western Civilization” The third and last part of the film was released in 1998.”The Decline of Western Civilization” is a documentary film that focuses on the evolution of the punk rock music genre as it changes from […]
Bernard Lewis Views on Shaping Western Civilization A good example is the way he described the aftermath of the Arab-Israeli war that erupted in 1948. There was no evidence to prove that he maligned members of the Arab world.
The Mayan Civilization History In the 17th century, the kingdom dubbed the Mayan society comprised of influential cities that covered both north of Honduras and south of Mexico.
Western Civilization Development Rome and Greece made essential assistance to the civilization of the western world which evolved over the centuries. Although the classical culture of Greece was fundamental in the creation of western civilization, it made no […]
Western Civilization in “The Agricola and the Germania” The book the Agricola and Germania is about the history of Tacitus who was a senator and a famous Roman historian.
The Euthyphro, the Apology, and the Crito Issues Impact on the Western Civilization This paper will discuss the main issues in the Euthyphro, the Apology, and the Crito, and how these issues impact the western civilization.
Impartiality: Richard Bulliet’s Islam and the West in the Case of Islamo-Christian Civilization The analogous historical development of Islam and the Western societies and the similarities and differences of the societies that emerge from them.
Creating a Sustainable Civilization This self-centeredness is at the heart of destroying the world, and it is characteristic of all members across the board. It is just the first step towards the achievement of a sustainable world.
World Civilization Primary Source Confucius’ views are similar to the opinions of Han Fei, who believes strong leaders are able to maintain public order in the society.
Ancient Greek Civilization History He criticized the government for tyranny and as a result, he is considered the father of democracy in Greek Sacred disease refers to epilepsy.
The Civilization of West Europe: Making Steps Towards the Progress Because of various factors influencing the development of nations and the shaping of the specific national peculiarities, the pace of West Europe development is considerably different from the one of the other parts of the […]
The 19th Century Civilization of East Asia: How Its Strengths Became Liabilities in the Face of Western Challenge The new set of new empires spurred military conflicts, but at the same time advancements in science and technology and the widespread of the idea of exploration became prominent during the 19th century.
Civilization from “The Condition of the Working Class in England” The author’s main argument in this book is that Industrial Revolution degraded the lives of the working class instead of uplifting them.
East Asia Civilization and History In the wake of the mid 1950, the warfare in Korea instigated and lasted for three years prior to the declaration of ceasefire.
The Significance of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation in History of Western Civilization In his attempts to reform the protestant church, Luther wrote several letters to the leaders of the church such as Bishops and the clergy.
Mandate of Heaven: Chinese Civilization and History The foremost rationale of the report is to seek and provide an elaborate explanation concerning the meaning of the “Mandate of Heaven”.
Theology, Philosophy and Science in Islamic Civilization In conclusion, it is evident that there was coexistence between theology, philosophy and science in the making of the Islamic civilization.
Medieval View: The New World of Reason and Perception Later, the new scientific view of the world pursued the concept that the universe was a stationary object that was located at the center of heavenly bodies.
Civilization and Its Discontents The main aim of writing this paper is to outline the concepts laid out by Freud in Civilization and its Discontents and then use the works of Marcuse and Foucault to critique the same.
History of Teotihuacan Civilization The figure below is a map of the region during the height of the Teotihuacan civilization in the Mexican area that presents the extent of the empire in context of other cultures that existed at […]
How Did the Age of Enlightenment Influence Western Civilization However, great thinkers in the past came to appreciate that it would be very beneficial if the government was to be inclined to people’s interest as opposed to the personal interests of its leader.
The Contributions of Religion in World Civilization Proponents of religion argue that it is a source of peace and tranquility in the world. Careful study and analysis of the contributions of religion in world’s civilization reveal that it contributes to both peace […]
Christianity in Medieval Civilization This paper, therefore, aims at viewing the western society and how it has been influenced by Europe, it also views the extent to which religion serves as a progressive and stabilizing force in the society […]
Japan’s Civilization According to Huffman, the Meiji government developed nationalism in Japan. Furthermore, under the Meiji regime, Japan was able to expand and had a stronger military.
Taking a Glance Into the Heart of Darkness: The Ambitions and Failure of the Civilization Indeed, the goals of the people, heading for the terra incognita of the distant and savage lands are not quite clear; wisely enough, Conrad does not disclose the aims of the travelers from the very […]
The Natural World, Human Identity, Human Relationships, and Civilization: A Perspective From the Book of Genesis The book of Genesis is the basis of the review made in this paper. The book of Genesis tells the story of creation by illustrating the Lord as the architect of the universe.
Civilization in Mesopotamia and Egypt The people of Mesopotamia used calendars in order to determine when the floods could occur along the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The Egyptians had a lot of developments in the field of architecture and art […]
The Inca Empire as a Great Civilization of the Pre-Columbian America One of the Andean civilizations, the Inca Empire was the largest country in the pre-Columbian America. The tax system was one of the statements of the Inca’s economy.
Compare and Contrast Mordecai Kaplan’s Judaism as a Civilization and Abraham Joshua Heschel’s the Sabbath Mordecai Kaplan’s Judaism as a Civilization focuses on the reconstruction of the American-Jewish life that would help the Jewish to change their traditional way of life through incorporations of the modern way of life, philosophy, […]
The Native Americans and the Euro Americans The entry of the colonialists into Native America was the beginning of the suffering of the Native Americans. However, the situation changes in 1812 when the policy of assimilation of the native lands was no […]
Mayan Civilization Origin and Development The secrets of the civilization are deeply buried in the tropical forests of the Central America. They are the largest class in the Mayan society and were regarded as the most productive.
Origin of Greek Civilization. Comparison of articles “Out of Africa” and “Not out of Africa: The origins of Greece and the illusions of Afrocentrists” What is of fact from the two articles is that Greek civilization came about as a result of contact between the Indo-European Language and cultural influence from Egyptian and Semitic languages.
Ancient Mediterranean Civilization Therefore, the Hammurabi’s code of laws made people in the ancient Mediterranean to be responsible for their actions, the owners, the thieves, the merchants and judges among others were all responsible for their actions.
Use of Allegory of Civilization Versus ‘Barbarism’ and Violence Thus, the film is seen as a way of confronting the old and the new cultures and the significant conflict that arises from this fusion. Dona is thus the allegory of the Venezuelan woman who […]
Middle East Civilization: Past and Present He counters this on the basis of his argument that changes in the economics and politics of a civilization are anchored in the diverse culture of the concerned civilization.
The History and Culture of Islam & the Arabs and Their Contributions to Global Civilization and the Advancement of Human Society However, one has to admit general ignorance of the fact that Islam is the predecessor of the Western science and has shaped the face of it throughout the centuries. In conclusion, one may confirm, that […]
Greek Civilization: Morality and ‘Philosophy’ of Life, Politics, and the Way History Is Written by Herodotus In this respect, the Book II written by Herodotus can be considered a good documentary evidence of the process of embalming though morality of this process can be questioned by the contemporary audience taking into […]
The Veil and Muslim: How the Veil Became the Symbol of Muslim Civilization and What the Veil Meant to Islamic Reformists The veil was used as a reform tool by early reformists especially in Egypt due to its relationship with oppression of women.
History of the Islamic Civilization The age of Islamic civilization started when Muslim conquests led to the establishment of the Caliphate, or Islamic Empire, during the 8th to 10th century.
The Way to Wild Place and Back to Civilization Meriwether Lewis and William Clark are the researches who managed to conduct a land expedition, going to the dangerous and unpredicted Pacific Northwest with the goal to search for the marine connections for commercial purposes […]
Roman Civilization: Senate and Augustan Regime Founded in early days, it survived events such as the split of the Roman Empire, the fall of the Roman republic and the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Did the Mayan Civilization Collapse as a Result of Drought?
What Are the Origins of the Mesopotamian Civilization?
How Has Modern Civilization Expanded and Adapted Over Time?
Why Does the Ancient Culture of Mesopotamia Deserve to Be Called a Civilization?
Did the European Civilization Impact America?
How Has Diversity Shaped Western Civilization?
What Caused the Disappearance of the Mayan Civilization?
How Did Ancient Greece Influence Western Civilization?
What Did the Industrial Revolution Represent for Western Civilization?
How Did the Minoans Influence the Mycenaean Civilization History?
What Role Did Religion Play in One Civilization Dominating Another?
How Did the Geographic Features of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia Impact Civilization Development?
Which Greek Civilization Was Based on Slave Labor?
How Did Ancient Greece’s Geography Affect Its Civilization?
Why Did Civilization First Emerge in the Middle East?
What Was the Role of Women in the Early Civilization?
How Did Religion and Art Shaped Roman Civilization?
Are We Prepared for a Possible Encounter With an Extraterrestrial Civilization?
How Has Technology Driven the Civilization of Our World?
Which Philosopher Had the Greatest Impact on Western Civilization in the 18th Century?
How Well Do Different Civilizations Fit Each Other?
Why Did Civilization Occur in the Nile River Valleys?
What Factors Caused the Collapse of Palatial Mycenaean Civilization?
How Did the Reformation Affect 16th-Century Civilization?
Why Was Ancient Greece the First Civilization to Develop Democracy?
Dynasties Research Topics
Ancient History Topics
Byzantine Empire Essay Ideas
Ancient Greece Paper Topics
Mesopotamia Essay Topics
Ancient Egypt Questions
Roman Empire Ideas
World History Topics
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

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128 Civilization Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Civilization is a broad and complex concept that encompasses various aspects of human society, culture, and development. Exploring this topic in an essay can provide valuable insights into the history, evolution, and challenges faced by civilizations throughout time. To help you get started, here are 128 civilization essay topic ideas and examples:

The rise and fall of the Roman Empire.
The impact of ancient Egyptian civilization on modern society.
The contributions of ancient Greek civilization to Western culture.
The role of religion in shaping civilizations.
The significance of the Silk Road in connecting civilizations.
The influence of Islamic civilization on the world.
The effects of colonization on indigenous civilizations.
The role of technology in shaping modern civilizations.
The impact of the Renaissance on European civilization.
The role of women in ancient civilizations.
The evolution of democracy in Western civilization.
The impact of slavery on American civilization.
The cultural achievements of ancient China.
The effects of imperialism on African civilizations.
The role of trade in the development of civilizations.
The impact of the Industrial Revolution on Western civilization.
The similarities and differences between Eastern and Western civilizations.
The impact of globalization on traditional civilizations.
The significance of the Mayan civilization in Mesoamerica.
The effects of war on civilizations.
The development of writing systems in ancient civilizations.
The role of education in the progress of civilizations.
The impact of climate change on ancient civilizations.
The role of art and architecture in representing civilizations.
The influence of ancient Indian civilization on Southeast Asia.
The impact of the printing press on Renaissance civilization.
The origins and spread of agriculture in early civilizations.
The role of mythology in ancient civilizations.
The effects of natural disasters on civilizations.
The significance of the Enlightenment in shaping modern civilizations.
The impact of colonialism on indigenous civilizations.
The development of legal systems in ancient civilizations.
The role of religion in ancient Mesopotamian civilization.
The effects of urbanization on civilizations.
The contributions of ancient civilizations to medicine and healthcare.
The impact of the French Revolution on European civilization.
The role of language in shaping civilizations.
The significance of ancient Inca civilization in South America.
The effects of imperialism on Asian civilizations.
The evolution of warfare in civilizations.
The impact of the Protestant Reformation on Western civilization.
The role of women in Renaissance civilization.
The cultural achievements of ancient Rome.
The effects of slavery on African civilizations.
The role of religion in ancient Egyptian civilization.
The significance of the Neolithic Revolution in human civilization.
The impact of colonialism on Native American civilizations.
The development of democratic systems in ancient civilizations.
The role of religion in ancient Greek civilization.
The effects of industrialization on urban civilizations.
The contributions of ancient Chinese civilization to science and technology.
The impact of the American Revolution on Western civilization.
The role of women in ancient Chinese civilization.
The cultural achievements of ancient Mesopotamian civilization.
The effects of the transatlantic slave trade on African civilizations.
The role of religion in ancient Mayan civilization.
The significance of the Paleolithic era in human civilization.
The impact of colonialism on Latin American civilizations.
The development of economic systems in ancient civilizations.
The role of religion in ancient Indian civilization.
The effects of urbanization on ancient civilizations.
The contributions of ancient civilizations to mathematics.
The impact of the Enlightenment on European civilization.
The role of women in ancient Egyptian civilization.
The cultural achievements of ancient Indian civilization.
The effects of the Atlantic slave trade on African civilizations.
The role of religion in ancient Roman civilization.
The significance of the Bronze Age in human civilization.
The impact of colonialism on African civilizations.
The development of political systems in ancient civilizations.
The role of religion in ancient Chinese civilization.
The effects of industrialization on rural civilizations.
The contributions of ancient civilizations to astronomy.
The impact of the French Revolution on French civilization.
The role of women in ancient Greek civilization.
The cultural achievements of ancient Egyptian civilization.
The effects of European colonization on Native American civilizations.
The significance of the Ice Age in human civilization.
The impact of colonialism on Asian civilizations.
The development of social systems in ancient civilizations.
The role of religion in ancient Inca civilization.
The effects of urbanization on rural civilizations.
The contributions of ancient civilizations to engineering.
The impact of the Industrial Revolution on British civilization.
The role of women in ancient Roman civilization.
The cultural achievements of ancient Mayan civilization.
The effects of the African slave trade on African civilizations.
The significance of the Iron Age in human civilization.
The impact of colonialism on Native Australian civilizations.
The development of religious systems in ancient civilizations.
The effects of industrialization on agricultural civilizations.
The contributions of ancient civilizations to literature.
The impact of the American Revolution on American civilization.
The role of women in ancient Mesopotamian civilization.
The cultural achievements of ancient Chinese civilization.
The effects of European colonization on African civilizations.
The significance of the Stone Age in human civilization.
The development of educational systems in ancient civilizations.
The effects of urbanization on nomadic civilizations.
The contributions of ancient civilizations to art.
The impact of the Renaissance on Italian civilization.
The role of women in ancient Indian civilization.
The cultural achievements of ancient Roman civilization.
The significance of the Agricultural Revolution in human civilization.
The development of agricultural systems in ancient civilizations.
The effects of industrialization on fishing civilizations.
The contributions of ancient civilizations to philosophy.
The contributions of ancient civilizations to architecture.

These essay topic ideas provide a starting point for exploring the vast subject of civilization. Remember to choose a topic that interests you and allows for in-depth analysis and critical thinking. Good luck with your essay!

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Create a Society Project: Middle School Project on Creating Your Own World

Beth Taylor
Categories : Lesson plans for middle school social studies
Tags : Teaching middle school grades 6 8

Map Your Island

Day One: Divide students into groups of three or four, depending upon your class size. The assignment today is to create and plan an island! Each group will need at least one large piece of white paper, art supplies, and plenty of writing paper and pens. The students start by collaboratively mapping out their imaginary island. This is an activity in which creativity can be used for best advantage. Remember, it is okay if they come up with something that might not be entirely realistic, as long as the group remains consistent and works together. (I once had a student put Scottish owls on his group’s tropical island.)

They can start by together answering these questions:

What shape is the island? How big is it?
Are there lots of sandy beaches? Forests or jungles? Villages, towns, or developed cities? What parts of the island (if any) are developed, and what parts (if any) are left untouched?
What types of flora and fauna exist on the island?
What is the weather like? How does it change with the seasons?

The groups of students will draw a map of the island in full color. Then, they will write essays describing the physical properties of the island and answering the questions above. As long as the students have made decisions and come to agreements together, essays can be done as homework assignments. For example, one group member can write about the landscape, another the flora and fauna, and another the island’s weather patterns.

This portion of the project can be completed in one session with homework assigned. It is also appropriate to take more than one class period to complete this portion of the project.

In Create a Society, students focus on the civilization living on their island. This portion of the project is my personal favorite because of its holistic qualities. Students have the opportunity to research and explore the various issues they must write about.

I recommend giving your students time to put everything in this portion together. If you don’t feel you have enough time to let them do every aspect of this project, feel free to pick and choose which ones you would like your students to focus on. There is a lot of material and potential here; your choices will probably be based upon what is being covered in other classes, such as history and social studies.

The following sections can be done in any order. There is, of course, overlap of the various aspects of the society, and students may want to go back and amend one section after starting another.

Cultural Aspects of the Project

We have ascertained how many people live on the island and which parts they inhabit. Students have already made some decisions about how rural or developed the civilization is. Now is the time to build upon this.

Culture/Religion/Mythology/Folklore:

Does the island society have a religion, mythology or folklore? Write an essay defining their pre-science belief system. Write at least two short folktales from this island. Extra credit: Write more than two folktales of the island people.

Make sure all of your ideas are tied into one consistent set of beliefs.

What types of art do they have? (ie, paintings, pottery?) What materials on the island do they use in their art? Write an essay describing the art on the island. Create your own representations of island art. (For example, students can create a picture of an island sculpture, island pottery, or island painting.) Extra credit: Create island art.

How do the island people make music? Do they have musical instruments, do they sing? What are the instruments made of? Write an essay describing the island’s native musical instruments. Create representations (drawings) of island musical instruments. Extra credit: compose a piece of original island music.

Extra credit: create an original island dance to go with the original island music.

Economical Aspects of the Society

The students have already discussed to some extent the level of development on the island. Now it is time to build upon these ideas and think about how they survive.

Agriculture/Industry

Is this an agricultural society? What do they grow? What animals do they keep? What do they use the animals for? For example:

Do they use animals for labor? Do they eat animals, or animal products (such as milk)?

Is there any industry on the island? Do the island people have access to technology; have they developed their own technology? If yes, what kinds of technology do they have?
Are there large businesses on the island, or factories? If yes, what do they produce? Or if not, is everything on a smaller scale?
Is this island society independent, or do they trade goods and services with the rest of the world?
Decide upon how they create and distribute goods and services among themselves.

Write a series of essays:

Write an essay describing food production and any agricultural practices on the island.

Write an essay describing the technology that they use, and what it is for. Be sure to include whether the island society interacts with the rest of the world, or remains its own independent block.

How do they create clothing? What is their clothing made of? Write an essay describing the materials used and the methods of production. Provide illustrations of island clothing.

Write a fourth essay, or include in the previous ones how food and services are distributed. Do the island people barter or use a system of money?

Students learn about the Consitution of the United States of America by collaboratively writing a constitution for the world they have created. They must consider how the government on their island will operate, how officials come into power, and what rights the inhabitants of the island do and don’t have.

This comprises the final step in the Create a World series.

CONSTITUTION

In this portion we will work on drawing up a constitution for the island. The constitution will define the role of government on the island, any system of law and order that is in place.

Questions for students to answer together in their groups:

What kind of government exists on the island? For example:

Is it a true democracy, such as Ancient Greece?

Is it similar to the 50 States, in which elected officials represent large blocks of people?

Is there a monarchy; are people born into political power?

Is the society anarchistic?

What role does the government play in the island peoples’ lives? For example:

Does the government own and dole out wealth, or does the government tax the people for certain purposes?

What does the government do to benefit the people?

What rights, if any, do the island people have?

LAW AND ORDER

Every society has some system of law and order.

What rules govern your island society, and who enforces them? How are these laws enforced?

The Constitution

Working together, students draw up a written constitution for their island. The above questions will be answered in the constitution.

Travel Brochure

If you want to give your students practice with persuasive writing, instruct them to create a travel brochure luring vacationers to come spend time on the island. Think of all the reasons that somebody would enjoy visiting the island, and write a persuasive essay encourging people to do so.

The Presentation

This is where it all comes together. Each group will give an oral presentation about the island they have developed. Students will be at the front of the class and display their map and any other visuals they have created. The can either read or simply describe the various aspects of their island world. A question and answer period should be included, and that can lead to interesting discussions.

As you can see, this project has the ability to cover various subjects of study. Not only is it a great way to develop creative writing skills, it is a great way to complement other school subjects, and a wonderful experience in cooperative and collaborative learning.

Civilization Builder

Civilization - List of Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

Civilization represents the complex societies characterized by urban development, social stratification, and a perceived separation from and domination over the natural environment. Essays on civilization could delve into its historical emergence, various civilizations throughout history, and the factors contributing to their rise and fall. Discussions might also cover the impact of technological, cultural, and political innovations on the development of civilizations, and the ongoing discourse regarding the concept of civilization in a modern, globalized world. Moreover, exploring the legacy and lessons drawn from ancient civilizations and analyzing the challenges and prospects faced by modern civilization can provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics shaping human societies over time. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Civilization you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

How did Ancient Greece’s Geography Affect its Civilization

Ancient Greece was mostly made up of many small and separated islands. Most people today know about the great Greek Philosophers, the Olympics, the battles, so most people should know at least a little of the history of ancient Greece. Many people don't know how Greece came to be a great civilization though. I think that the reason why many democracies and civilizations fought for Greece was because of where Greece was located. Ancient Greece's geography is the thing that […]

Social Hierarchies in Ancient Civilizations

According to Karl Marx, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles."(Marx 1). This is also true for ancient civilizations. Ancient Egypt, China, and India all had social classes that their people adhered to. In contemporary society we have nearly eliminated such classes. There is no longer any need to have set classes in place. Contrary to ancient times, people are now able to move freely from one class to another based off of their […]

History of Ancient Greece

Between the Mediterranean and Aegean seas on a peninsula lies the land of Greece. A land sculpted by mountainous terrain with limited farmable land led the Greeks to be avid seafaring peoples. Ancient Greece has a very rich history separated by various periods that denote their success and decline as a civilization. A rather unconventional ancient civilization, early Greeks did not develop like their contemporaries, but grew to be quite isolated from one another due to the mountainous terrain that […]

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Lord of the Flies: Civilization Vs Savagery

Imagine being stranded on an island. your first instinct is to discover some nourishment, shelter, and to discover an exit plan the island. being marooned can be a critical circumstance. it can raise new difficulties and self-revelation. At the point when a group of young boys gets stranded on an island alone without any grown-ups together they should figure out how to live and make due as a gathering. Not exclusively should their principle need is nourishment and a safe […]

Greek and Roman Affects on Western Civilization

After discussing Greek and Roman architecture and engineering in class, I wanted to garner a deeper understanding of just how much of an affect these two cultures had on modern Western Civilizations. For instance, what else have these magnificent cultures contributed to to other aspects of society. This paper will discuss the similarities and differences between the Greeks and Romans, as well as its influence on Western Civilizations that haven't already been discussed in our class. While both Roman and […]

The Rise and Decline of European Morals and Society

Progression and Destruction Europe during the early to mid-twentieth century was an unstable Europe and in stark contrast to the Europe of the nineteenth century. Devastated by two World wars and political revolutions pitting western Europe against Eastern Europe, many were left questioning the progress made over the past century and whether all of this change was for the better or indeed for the worse. But this disenchantment of European civilization was far from new. As imperialism spread some Europeans […]

Comparison of Civilization Vs Savagery

What would you do when you're stuck on an island with 3 other people on an island and some civilization such as a tribe of boys? This is what the Lord of the flies is about. The Lord of the flies is an allegory which is essentially a metaphor in which a character is used to deliver a broader message. Throughout this novel, Golding represents the conflict between civilization and savagery in the conflict between Ralph, who represents order and […]

Ancient Greek Contributions to Western Civilization

Greece has made invaluable contributions to worldwide civilization. Greece has vastly influenced, Western Civilization, culture, and even our way of thought. It has been written that Greece is the birthplace of western civilization. One of Greece's invaluable influences of Western Civilization is the arts. The ancient Greeks were well-known for their temples, art work, and sculptures. In fact, Greece introduced sculpturing into architecture, as evidenced in their columns, be it what is still used today, Dorian, Ionic and Corinthian design […]

Choices in Life in Walden

Every characteristic of our lives is chosen for us by society. From simple actions such as the clothes we wear, to decisions as monumental as the careers we pursue, we are not granted decisions to make, but social expectations to abide by. After over a decade of being taught what to think and how to perform, society demands you get a job. The most esteemed jobs are not necessarily a job you want, or even a profession you are passionate […]

Civilization, Power and Moral Consequences in Lord of the Flies

Order, leadership, power, and moral consequences are some concepts needed in society to maintain civilization. Lord of the Flies by William Golding explores these ideological struggles between two main characters: Ralph and Jack. With different perspectives about how one should rule, they both challenge each other from the start. The novel starts off with a plane crash in the middle of an unknown island where a group of young English boys are isolated without any adults, and are thus tested […]

Christianity’s Impact on Western Civilization

What do people look for in religion? Do they seek guidance, belief, reason, or help? All of those traces can be found in one form or another in the Judeo-Christian religion. From the followers attempting to flee prosecution to now being a major religion throughout the world with billions of followers, Christianity has extended its roots to the modern world. It hardly needs stating that Christianity has influenced the Western World through literature by influencing culture, history, laws, and morals […]

Exploration of New Land

A traveler sees many wonderous things in their time discovering other communities and civilizations. As a traveler that has visited some of most dynamic countries in the world, I feel I witnessed history. Throughout the next pages my goal is to explain all about what I have experienced so that the rest of the world may know just how incredible this transformation was. I will tell about my travels to India, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire. When I visited, these […]

Fall of Ancient Civilizations Due to Agriculture

Soil plays an important part in people's daily lives. It plays a factor in how plants grow, how it can filter our water, provides essential nutrients to our forests and crops, and it also helps regulate the Earth's temperature. It also plays a role in our food source. Without soil how would we grow our vegetables and fruits? Without proper care for the soil most civilizations would rapidly decline. For example, many ancient civilizations rose in power but declined rapidly […]

The Ancient Egyptian Civilization

The Ancient Egyptian civilization had lots of help from the nile river. It is rumored that the nile river is the longest river on earth. The name Nile comes from their Greek Ancestors. The first ruler Narmer also known as menes was a native Egyptian. At the time, thirty percent of the population was Greek which led to being Egyptian-Greek. There were three kingdoms; the old kingdom, the middle kingdom, and the new kingdom. Their rich history helped shape modern […]

Characteristics of a Civilization

Historians have determined that there are 5 characteristics that are required for a civilization to be considered as such. The first trait a civilization needs is a system of specialized workers. The second is advanced cities. The third characteristic necessary is a system of complex institutions. Next, the need for and development of record-keeping or writing is important. Finally, a group of people can be considered a civilization if they have developed some form of advanced technology. The Greeks were […]

Social Status and Justice in Ancient Civilizations

While much progress has been made towards a fair and equal democratic justice system over the course of the last four millennia, the concept of justice during the Age of Antiquity was unquestionably highly dependent on one's social status. The availability of a just consideration within society, whether it be in regard to the laws that could benefit or harm you or simply just one's ability to represent themselves within society, was determined by more than just one's personal wealth. […]

Lord of the Flies Killing the Sow

“‘Maybe there is a beast… maybe it's only us’”(Golding 82). William Golding writes 'it's only us' as he believes that every man has a darker side, an inner beast that is proven inescapable by moral depravity. Throughout Lord of the flies, the young British boys stranded on an island will attempt to suppress men's darker side by governing themselves, nonetheless; their evil instincts will eventually present itself causing division among the boys. Ralph, the oldest of the group, will strive […]

Main Elements of Civilization in Modern Society

Civilize, to bring to a stage of social, cultural, and moral development considered to be to be more advanced. Civilization, a stage of human social development and organization that is considered most advanced. There are five key elements of civilization: centralized government, religion, jobs and/or social classes, arts and writing. Centralized government is the giving of power to a central body or small group of individuals, which is responsible for ensuring the proper function of the economy and all other […]

Review of World Civilizations

This paper will summarize the topics I found most informative and interesting while reading Voyages in World History, Volume 1: To 1600, Third Edition by Valerie Hansen and Kenneth R. Curtis. It will cover information I learned about the first modern humans, when and where they settled new lands, the first complex societies in Mesopotamia, Egypt, South Asia, China and the Americas as well as the Aztec and Incan Empires. The first anatomically modern humans appeared in Africa around 200,000 […]

Early Civilizations and Religions

Humans have progressed in many ways since the beginning. The early civilizations paved the way for modern times, they each developed in different ways but they all had common elements including living near water, agriculture, a form of religion and politics. We have different levels of knowledge of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. There are many similarities and differences among the way that each civilization existed. Let's investigate how India and China religions compare. For this paper, we are using […]

The Fall of Civilization into Savagery

Thomas Hobbes argues that "the life of man, [is] solitary, poore, nasty, brutish and short'" and the only way to avoid it is by accepting "mutually recognized public authority" (Lloyd and Shreedhar, "Hobbes's Moral and Political Philosophy"). In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding tells the story of a group of boys who crash landed and are stranded on an island that no one knows about. A few of the older boys attempt to recreate the organized society […]

European Exploration to the “New World”

"European Exploration to the “New World” began with Columbus’s Voyage across the Atlantic in 1492, which reveals a new civilization of native people with their own way of life, believed by modern archaeologists to built upon the first arrivers in the Americas in roughly 12000 BC. Over these thousands of years, as the natives migrated across the continents, they developed a wide range of language, trading systems, agriculture, customs, and civilizations. This discovery, however, quickly shifted into the favor of […]

Catholicism and Western Civilization

Western society and civilization is an important part of history today as well as the impacts of religion at the time of the Roman Empire. The most crucial religion that apperared within the western society was cathloticism. The church was a way of teachings with many concepts including schooling, culture and the focus of God. The church had its good and bad influences on the people. The most influential part of western society was not only God but the peoples […]

Civilization in Modern Society

Thesis: As a result of the dawn of civilization, humanity evolved, and it benefited all of mankind, but especially the upper-class society. Despite the disadvantages that the lower-class had to endure, the advancements of civilization were favorable for society as a whole because people were able to rely on a sufficient food supply. All of society benefited from the advances of Mesopotamian Civilization, especially the upper-class because they had a food surplus which contributed to a more stable lifestyle. The […]

Final Summation Essay for History World Civilizations

This is a summary essay of three topics of my choice. I wanted to do the summation essay on my personal favorite parts of the world that I want to visit and that interests me the most out of all the cultures and countries on earth. They are Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. I also like other cultures in the world, especially asian-based ones such as Thailand, China, etc, but I chose to do those three specific countries because they're my […]

The Ancient Greek Civilization

The Ancient Greek Civilization was, undeniably, a key influencer in the development of the political systems, ethical and philosophical values, and technologies of the Western World. Some of these are still utilized today. Thucydides, Aristophanes, and Plato studied how the relationship between elite leaders, mass audiences, and critics of democracy were impacted by the democratic and rhetorical environment of 4th Century Athens. Aristotle sought to show how political reason could bring democratic processes into harmony with aristocratic values, two of […]

American Expansion and Imperialism Essay

Across all of time, imperialism and expansion from country to country has been widespread. From the Holy Roman empire, to the expansion of Germany in World War II, expansion has been a common occurrence in history for hundreds of years. However, some question the morality of expansion. Isn’t it better to just leave countries alone? That was a very common question during the late 1800’s, when imperialism and expansion became more widespread in America. Many people questioned the morality and […]

The Effects of Godliness and Worldliness in the Puritan Civilization

In past civilizations, many upheld the belief that religious principles were in fact to be embedded within the present standards of the country's economic and social status. The aspect of godliness and worldliness is still contrasted in discussions today. The effects that the two factors play on the outcome of the trials remain a prominent part of Salem and Andover's historical prevalence. The genuinity of Miller's work, The Crucible, resonates throughout the nation, and is praised for its dissection on […]

The Catholic Church and the Western Civilization

Without the Catholic Church we wouldn't be sitting in this room today. Exact dates of the first known universities like Oxford or Cambridge are unknown, but it is said around the second half of the twelfth to early thirteenth century the university system was first created. The university system created then is still used in current schools settings including course studies, exams, degrees, undergraduate and graduate programs. These universities first began as cathedral schools with informal gathering between masters (or […]

Architectural Development through Civilizations

Since the moment mankind made the transition from being nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle, architecture became an important part of human survival. As time paced forward various civilizations conjured different architectural designs, materials, and layouts to best suit their needs as a society. Of course, as time went on so did the development of architecture. New wonders were developed, and innovative methods were used to create various structures that still stand today. Old designs have become outdated and the architectural […]


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