Civilization & Barbarism

What does it mean to live in civilization?

What does it mean to be civilized?

• If living under barbaric circumstances is to live surrounded by…– Choas, disorder, greed, war, evil, hate,

despair, discrimination, brokenness, ignorance, lust…

• Then living under civilized circumstances is to live surrounded by…– Order, law, harmony, respect, courtesy,

progress, productivity, wisdom, safety, peace, hope…

Is our society civilized?

• Charlottesville High?– How so? How not?

• Charlottesville, VA?– How so? How not?

• The United States?– How so? How not?

• The modern world?– How so? How not?

Lessons of Ancient Civilization

• A small group of people can change history.• That which brings the rise may also bring the fall.• Leavers submit to the world; takers claim ownership. • Man rages against uncertainty in pursuit of glory.• A life is insignificant but for its impact on other lives.• The desires and limitations of man are universal.• Men are disciples of profits or prophets, but rarely

both.• Culture is a blessing and a curse.• God and man trade places at the center of the world.• Fate is the child of fortune and free will.

Essential Questions• Are we who we were?• What is the tragic flaw of man?• To what extent does profit precede principle?• How much control is necessary to preserve

order?• Do human beings know how to live with the

world?• How should the worth of man be measured?• What does it mean to live in the in-between?

The Features of Civilization

Political Socio-Economic

Cultural

Cities Social classes Art/architecture

Organized gov’t

Job specialization

Complex religion

Codified laws Public works

Political: Related to government and boundaries

Socio-Economic: Related to society and productivity

Cultural: Related to beliefs, art, style, customs

25-minute Processing Tasks

• Rap– Write a rap that teaches about the 8

features of advanced civilization.• Graffiti

– Design a graffiti mural that reveals the 8 features of civilization. You may only use words as labels for your drawings.

• Jingles– Write short advertising jingles about

each of the 8 features of advanced civilization.