In 6th and 7th grade we will learn a great deal about civilizations, a group of people with their own languages and way of life. Some examples of civilizations are the Greeks, the Romans, the Mayans, the Aztecs, and the Vikings. Civilization comes from the Latin word civis meaning someone who lives in a town or city, not a small tribe or family group.

A civilization is organized. This means it has laws, language, religion, culture, a regular way of getting food, and ways to protect its people. The adults teach their children the things they want them to know.

Civilizations are very diverse and can be very different from each other, but they all have share some important factors that help social scientist study them. Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Social Structure. An easy acronym to help your remember is the G.R.A.P.E.S. of Civilization.