Elements of Civilizations

We find two characteristic elements within a civilization. The first is essential, the other is complementary, they are derived from the first and have now become inseparable.I). Essential.- Here we find human sociability and religion. Many authors indicate that the essential elements are the same as the cultural factors of a civilization. But to avoid confusion, we have decided to name them “essential factors”.

a) Human sociability. – Within human sociability, there are two driving factors: family and language. Both are a product of man’s need to socialize, and both allow the continued existence of the civilization. The family is the first source that the new members of society are exposed to, receiving their parents’ habits (a phenomenon known as enculturation) and language is the medium through which civilization is spread, through oral traditions.b) Religion – this could also be seen as an ideological element in a more general way. Humans tend to group up with the people who share the same beliefs as them. An example of this is the Muslim civilization, united by their God Allah. Or the Western civilization which identifies itself as being Catholic or Protestant, both of which stem from Christianity.(II). Complementary Elements.These are the most abundant elements; according to some authors, up to 7 elements can be included. These elements allow the subsistence of the first and even of their own development and expansion to other groups. These elements also determine the process of growth within the civilization itself. If the first give their characteristics and uniqueness with regards to other civilizations, these elements determine the characteristics.

We can mention the following:

• The accumulation of wealth, which depends on the type of work. This should generate surplus production to ensure the development of science and technology and thus the growth of the civilization.
• Physical agents such as climate, soil, the geographical aspect in general, nature and man himself. Perhaps man should not be here, but by his material constitution, this is taken into account.
• Trade, as it allows communication between one village and another, thus enabling their cultural enrichment.
• Art, because it causes emotions in human beings, and is also a reflection of our aesthetic and evaluative side.
• Instruction or teaching, as it is necessary for people to know their own history, as well as being trained in the use of techniques and theories.
• Inventions and applications, which save time and effort in the production process.
• And lastly, although it is not considered an important or determining factor, but rather a simple consequence of civilization, we refer to the management of the government.
  It may be seen that these elements are of a pro-capitalist nature. People unconsciously defend the permanence of a mode of production, as that is where their food source comes from.