What is Civilization? http://www.willdurant.com/civilization.

htm

Civilization is social order promoting cultural creation. Four elements constitute it: economic provision, political
organization, moral traditions and the pursuit of knowledge and the arts.

The Ten Characteristics of Civilization http://staff.orcsd.org/tallen/ten_characteristics_of_civilizat.htm

The following are 10 characteristics of what is likely to make a civilization.

1. Urban society: Living together in communities.

2. Religion: Beliefs that provide answers to “unanswerable” questions.

3. Literacy: The ability to read and write.

4. Government: Having a set of rules, leaders or organization to society

5. Specialization: Using unique skills to benefit all.

6. Social classes: Groups of people with common characteristics.

7. Tool-making: The ability to problem-solve.

8. Concept of time: Understanding of patterns like the seasons, sunrise and sunset or tides can be used to your benefit.

9. Leisure: Recognizing the value of the arts and entertainment.

10. Education/criticism: Striving to improve as an individual or as a culture.

What makes a Great Civilization? http://able2know.org/topic/8216-1

Is it sheer wealth? Then it might be the US of 2003.

Is it sheer size?
Is it number of persons under one rule?
Is it amount of freedoms?
Is it the amount of public works?
Is it religious freedom?
Is it leaders being held accountable?
Is it number of innovations and inventions?
Is it the ability to produce literature?
Is it the ability to make war?
Is it the ability to produce art?
Then I think that distinction goes to the Brits of the 19th century.
That would be China, 2003, with over 1 billion people
Tricky; I'd say the US of the 20th century.
Maybe the Roman Empire, (all built with slave labor)
Then it may be the Mongols. Or the U.S., Canada…
It could be the US, or England at the time of the Magna Carta,…
It might be the US in the 19th century, or 20th century, but also
Germany during those time periods.
It may be England during Shakespearean times or during the
18th century, but it could conceivably be Spain, Ireland, France, Italy,
during any number of periods.
That's the US again, and again in 2003, but it could conceivably also
be Russia or any other nuclear power.
That's Italy during the Renaissance, but also Belgium, France and
Holland during the same time period.
A great activity to do in class
BUILDING A NEW CIVILIZATION

It’s the end of the world as you know it. You are a pilot working out of Santiago for Lan Chile Airlines. You have
been told that there will be a nuclear explosion which is expected to wipe out the entire human race in thirty
minutes.

However, you have had the good fortune of having been chosen to select and safely transport 7 people to a nearby
island which miraculously is immune to the effects of nuclear radiation.

YOU MUST CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:

¬ A homosexual male doctor (age unknown)

¬ A female singer (age 38)
¬ A Catholic priest
¬ A pregnant Nigerian woman
¬ Her husband, a Nigerian Chief
¬ A male witch doctor (grew up on a nearby island)
¬ A military officer ( holds a civil engineering degree)
¬ A female teacher (age 35)
¬ A female archaeologist (age unknown)
¬ A policeman (age 30)
¬ A male dentist (age unknown)
¬ The Pope
¬ A research scientist (he is carrying a gene for muscular dystrophy)
¬ A Protestant minister
¬ An orphaned girl (age 8)
¬ A female agricultural student (3rd year at university)
¬ A male CEO of an international corporation (age 56)
¬ A Navy officer specializing in submarines (age 43)
¬ A female gold medal triathlon winner (age unknown)
¬ A local fisherman (age 27)