a.
Civilization in the absolute sense comprises man’s social relationships and the development of
institutions that enable people to live and work together in organized communities. This
includes the formation of governments, legal systems, economic systems, and religious
institutions that provide a framework for social and cultural interactions. The whole complex of
these relationships is known as society. Society, therefore, include such forms as:
i. The permanent institution.
ii. The community which means an aggregate of people, inhabiting more or less a
definite geographic area.
iii. The social class.
iv. The group which signifies the aggregate of individuals in interaction.
Civilization in the absolute sense is as old as humanity itself.
b. In the relative sense, civilization refers to the highest stage of socio-cultural organization yet to
attain, which is constantly evolving and advancing as society’s progress. This concept is relative
to historical time and is influenced by the level of development and complexity of the social,
cultural, economic, and technological aspects of a society. Civilization is often contrasted with
the earlier stages of human development, which were labeled as savagery and barbarism.
c. In the special sense, civilization refers to an integrated complex of social and cultural forms that
are built around and in terms of a definite set of ideas and certain material equipment. This
includes the development of language, writing, architecture, religion, art, and science, which are
all interconnected and help to shape the identity of a particular civilization.
Egyptian Civilization:
In ancient Egypt a flourishing civilization developed during the period of Pharaohs.
1) Agriculture and Commerce throve in the country,
2) Art and architecture flourished,
3) Many beautiful temples and monuments were constructed,
4) The Egyptians had developed superior type of barley seed which could be easily cultivated and
which produced heavy yields.
5) The linen garments were remarkable for their design and decorations.
6) Pottery became famous for its beauty.
7) During the pre-dynastic period the Egyptians constructed canals and irrigation systems.
8) There were two kingdoms of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt.
9) During the period of the king of Lower Egypt who established his capital at Heliopolis, the
introduction of plough made in possible to cultivate more lands which were responsible for
more productions.
10) Egyptians made wonderful progress in the techniques of writing.
11) They invented papyrus and ink.
12) Another achievement of the Egyptians was the creation of the first calendar. They developed a
system of twelve months, each of thirty days, totaling 360 days in all. At the end of each year
they added five days.
13) Egyptians brought timber from Syria to construct boats, houses and furniture.
14) After three hundred years of disunity the princes of Thebes, a city on the upper Nile, succeeded
in re-establishing national unity under on Pharaoh.
15) That time agriculture, government, social organization, war, art, commerce and certain forms of
science had become quite highly developed.
i. Social life in ancient Egypt.
ii. Economic life.
iii. Religious beliefs in Egypt.
iv. Development of art of writing.
v. Architecture.
vi. Education and literature.
vii. Sculpture and painting.