Civilization Defined

12/28/2019: The first paragraph of the Wikipedia article on civilization defines it thusly: "
A civilization or civilisation (see English spelling differences) is any complex society characterized by urban development, social stratification imposed by a cultural elite, symbolic systems of communication (for example, writing systems), and a perceived separation from and domination over the natural environment."

The writer of the article goes on a civilization also has government to run the nation state.

Will and Ariel Durant, in their history, The Age of Louis XIV, define civilization on page vii thusly: "This volume is Part VIII in a history whose beginning has been forgotten, and whose end we will never reach. The subject is civilization, which we define as a social order promoting cultural creation; therefore it includes government, economy (agriculture, industry, commerce, finance) , morality, manners, religion, art, literature, music, science and philosophy."

From the article in Wikipedia, we can infer that tribal life in a state of nature, or the lives of pastoral shepherds and farmers, would be regarded as simpler, more in tune with nature, perhaps even barbaric--although war, class divisions, social injustice, and other urban ills could make a village farmer question who is culture and refined, and who are the barbaric ones.

Still, urban centers are more civilized, and when well-run, promote the rise of culture, ethics and dprsence of higher order deities being worshiped, than in nature or in pastoral societies.