Firstly, a feature of a great civilisation is good geographical location. Good geographical location is synonymous with proximity to water. With a constant water source, sufficient food is available. This is possible because the water source provides water and silt for the crops which will enable the crops to grow healthily. Food and water can also be obtained from the water source. An example to illustrate this will be the Egyptian civilization. It is located beside the Nile River and the Egyptians obtain water from the Nile River to irrigate their crops which will provide abundant food. As a result, it would be self-sustaining and be able to prosper.
Once the civilisation has settled down and there is enough food, there must be a government to organise the people. The government has to protect the civilization from enemies invading the civilization. The government is also responsible for the regulation of trade, agriculture and labour specialization etc. A perfect example to illustrate this is the Egyptian civilization which were ruled by the pharaoh and aided by his officials. They introduced a standard system of measurements which were essential for trading and also introduced laws to ensure peace of civilisation. Without the Egyptian pharaoh and his officials to regulate and control the civilization, it would not have thrived.
Lastly, a feature of a great civilisation would be advancement in the arts and sciences. This would allow the civilians to develop new equipments which would let the civilians go about their everyday life with more ease. With advancement of technology, the civilians can also have greater productivity. Advancement in sciences and arts is especially relevant in the context of the Ancient Egyptian civilisation. The ancient Egyptians believed of life after death and with the advancement of sciences, they mummified pharaohs etc using complicated processes. However, their jobs were made easier with advancement in the technology and sciences. This can also be said of the magnificent pyramids which are wonders of the world. With the skills of the highly-competent engineers and architects and advancement in technology, the task was easier.
However, there are also other features like labour specialization, trading e.g. which are controlled by the government and ensures the prosperity of a great civilization. These features cannot be overlooked. Thus we can conclude that the civilization must firstly be located at a good geographical location followed by having an efficient government and lastly having advancement in science and technology in order to be considered a great civilization and be self-sustaining.
![menhotep IV changed his name Akhenaten and began a revolutionary period in Egyptian history called the Amarna Period.[1] Although this period lasted only a relatively short time, it had a profound impact on Egyptian civilisation.](https://mbt-essays-prod-public.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/917068/listing/917068_1.jpg)
