What are the key features of a civilization?

The key features of a civilization fundamentally include urban centers and social stratification. Civilizations are characterized by the development of cities that serve as hubs for political, economic, and social activity. These urban centers allow for larger populations to live closely together, facilitating trade, governance, and cultural exchange.

Social stratification is another critical aspect, which refers to the hierarchical organization of society into different classes or groups. This can include distinctions based on wealth, occupation, social status, and access to resources or power. Such stratification often leads to specialization of labor, with individuals taking on specific roles that contribute to the functioning of the society as a whole.

In contrast, options mentioning a nomadic lifestyle and oral traditions represent earlier human societies that predominate before the advent of civilizations. Self-sufficient villages and small social groups usually indicate a more simplistic or underdeveloped mode of social organization, while a lack of economic systems and cultural achievements is not characteristic of civilizations, which thrive on complex economic structures and rich cultural contributions.