What makes a distinct civilization?

Question

Inspired by this question, I have a more general one: What is, historically speaking, a civilization?

We can identify broad traits that make a society a civilization- agriculture, city building, social structures, etc. But what separates one civilization from another, both geopolitically and chronologically? Is there a widely accepted definition of "a civilization" that identifies a particular time period or region as being one distinct from others? What factors would be considered in defining a specific civilization?

For example, why would (not) the Roman Republic and the Byzantine Empire be considered the same civilization? What about the Byzantine Empire and the Western Roman Empire?

Answer 1

Spengler uses one definition (around 8 civilizations), Toynbee uses another (around 23 civilizations), Huntington has its own (actually close to 10 civilizations). Therefore the question is quite open. in fact, Toynbee dedicates almost half volume to describe the definition of civilization as a study field.

Under Toynbee definition:
A civilization would be a subject of study that can be analyzed as a whole ignoring its relation with other civilizations. I mean, to understand the history of France you need to understand the history of Germany, therefore both countries belong to the same civilization, at the same time, you can ignore the history of Russia to understand France, which means that Russia should be a different civilization.

A civilization often ends in a universal empire which cover the whole civilization irradiation, like Roman Empire which covers all the roman-greek world, or Incan Empire that unifies the whole andean region, but these empires are only visible at the end of the life of a civilization. Once a universal empire falls the civilization might be close to its end.

Under this definition, the Roman Empire was the end of a civilization, and the Bizantine Empire was one of its children in the eastern side of the empire, while the western civilization started in the western side of the empire.

I highly recommend to read the first volume of Toynbee, but maybe the abridged version of Sommerville will be easier to digest.

Links:
Spengler https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decline_of_the_West
Toynbee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Study_of_History
Huntington https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash_of_Civilizations

Answer 2

Definitions from Free Dictionary, Dictionary.com, and Oxford dictionary (subscriber only) should tell you the official definition.

The Roman Republic and Byzantine Empire are different because of religion, geographical location, population, language and customs. Although the Byzantine did consider themselves the heirs of the Roman Empire. In the same way that the Holy Roman Empire is not the same as the Roman Empire in religion, location, language, population, and customs but again a lineage was claimed.

Answer 3

Well, with regard to the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire, you need to understand their distinguishable religious, cultural and political characteristics.

The Byzantine Empire, during its first 300 years-(from Emperor Constantine until the rise of Emperor Heraclius), was essentially, an outgrowth of the old Roman Empire; that is to say, the Byzantine Empire was the Eastern half or zone of the Roman Empire, while Rome-(as well as the city of Milan beginning around 300 AD/ CE), represented the Western half or zone of the old Roman Empire. However, by 476 AD/CE, the Western half of the Roman Empire collapsed and were overrun by the Visigoths-(as well as related Germanic tribes), while the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire continued for several centuries-(until its collapse in 1453).

For the first 300 years, the Byzantine Empire was dominated and governed mostly by ethnic Roman Emperors-(i.e. Constantine, Justinian), though by 606 AD/CE, with the rise of Emperor Heraclius, the Byzantine Empire became an increasingly Hellenic and religiously Eastern Empire. This would last until "The Fall Of Constantinople" in 1453-(though the city of Constantinople was occupied by the Papal backed Crusaders during the first half of the 1200's).

While Greco-Byzantium flourished for much of the Early Medieval period, Rome, the majority of the Italian peninsula and nearly all of its Western and Northern European territories slumbered through "The Dark Ages". Politically speaking, many European territories were either under direct or peripheral control of the Papacy. Even the so-called, "Holy Roman Empire"-(in its early years), was still largely under Papal influence and orchestration. And "Dark Ages" Europe, was a Roman rite Christian religious culture largely influenced and controlled by the Papacy thereby distinguishing itself from the Byzantine Christian East.

So as you can see, there were major ethno-demographic, cultural, political and religious "distinctions" which contrasted Rome from Constantinople throughout much of The Middle Ages.

Answer 4

1. Stable food supply: A complex can thrive only if its member have enough food.

2. Social structure: Social structure include different jobs and social levels. People at higher levels have greater status than others.

3. A highly developed culture: This includes things such as painting, architecture, music and literature.

4. A system of government: A system of government is needed to direct people’s behavior and make life orderly.

5. A religious system: A set of beliefs, usually in a god, together with forms of worship.

6. Advances in technology: They must have created practical tools and inventions.

7. A highly developed written language: There must be some form of written language within the civilization.