Abstract
The term “civilization,” articulated in eighteenth century Europe, has been widely used in many languages from the nineteenth century to the present. It refers both to widespread societies governed by powerful states in modern times and to prestigious urban and monumental civilizations of ancient times. This essay explores the history of the concept of civilization through science, ideology, and schooling. Scientific exploration of civilization was an implementation of emerging studies in social science. Ideological statement of social priorities appropriated civilization, especially in the era of expanding capitalism, empire, and white supremacy. In the school systems set up around the world, the term “civilization” was included in the curriculum both to explain ancient heritage and the comparison of modern great powers, religious faiths, and cultural practices. Weaknesses in the concept of civilization are becoming apparent as knowledge expands. New factors to consider include the significance of the end of empire; increased attention to network dynamics as well as hierarchies; comparisons of biological equality and social inequality; the roles of commoners and local scales; the rise of global social and institutional structures; shifting balances of societies and regions; and more attention to the historical role of schooling and science.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Articles
- WTO Crisis through the Lens of Hegemony Theories: When International Trade Law and Geopolitics Collide
- Sovereignty in the Digital Age – How Can We Measure Digital Sovereignty and Support the EU’s Action Plan?
- Crisis of Multilateralism and Cities’ Helping Hand
- Commentary
- “Civilization” in History and Ideology Since 1800
- Documentation
- Opening the Chrysalis: Willard D. Straight’s Sketches, Photographs, and Accounts of Korea’s Interaction with the Outside World, 1904–5
- Book Reviews
- The Truth about Nature: Environmentalism in the Era of Post-Truth Politics and Platform Capitalism
- Eswar Prasad: The Future of Money: How the Digital Revolution is Transforming Currencies and Finance
- Jean Burgess and Nancy Baym: Twitter: A Biography