Systems of Government

Humans began as nomadic people who found their food and subsistence in their environment, or hunters and gatherers. Humans throughout history have used the natural resources they could find in their environments/regions. As early humans learned more about their environment, and with the invention of language, they were able to pass down knowledge from generation to generation. Early humans were able to work together to domesticate animals and invent agriculture. As knowledge passes from generation to generation, ancestors are left with certain attitudes and values; also known as cutlure. 

When humans mastered their environment, or geography, they were able to create a more complex society. For example, when humans settled in river valleys, farming (agriculture) became a more efficient way to survive than hunting and gathering or living off the land. Once humans settled in one spot it became easier and more useful to build things called infrastructure (buildings, roads, temples, etc.); when this happens the group is known as a civilization. A civilization allows for specialization of labor, and allows for major changes to happen within a society.

The term "society" came from the Latin word societas, which in turn was derived from the noun socius ("comrade, friend, ally";) used to describe a bond or interaction between parties that are friendly, or at least civil. The term can also refer to the entirety of humanity (also: "society in general", "society at large", etc.). Societies are made up of institutions that are defined by social contracts, or agreements (aka assumptions). A social contract: it's what French and English philosophers Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Locke and other Enlightenment thinkers called the basic agreement between people and their government. A social contract basically means people agree to follow certain rules for the safety and well-being of everyone. This social contract has had different rules throughout history, but it has essentially existed since humans learned to communicate. 

Governments are groups of people who make the rules for societies (laws), and in exchange, citizens agree to follow these rules or laws. Governments usually divide themselves into nations, states/provinces and political regions. However, throughout history religions have bound societies, civilizations and groups together just as much as anything else. As societies and civilizations become more complex, so too do their government systems. They develop institutions, rules, and structures to govern themselves and protect the idea of sovereignty. Below are some basic descriptions of government systems. Government systems are outlined in something called a constitution. Constitutions are usually forms of self-government and/or representative government, and usually contain democratic principles. While most constitutions remain unchanged over time, many include a process that allows them to be amended, or changed.

As the population of humans grew, civilizations invented money for trade, and governments to regulate their behavior, and then interacted with other societies. Trade of different natural resources between these societies, groups, and civilizations became known as an economy. The invention of agriculture and the specialization of labor allowed the rise of city-states and Nations, built from connected communities involved in trade. The sharing of goods between these civilizations inevitably led to the dispersion of new ideas. Science, art, mathematics, and new schools of thought were born from these complex social contracts between the people of the world and the nation where they lived. 

Large kingdoms and civilizations were built on a common culture with a social contract and language. To preserve their culture, civilizations invented writing, and ended up being preserved in history. The earliest examples of writing come from Mesopotamia (~3400-3200 BC), Egypt (~3100 BC), the Xia Dynasty in China (~2000 BC), the Indus Valley; as well as Mesoamerican cultures such as the Aztecs and Incas (~300 BC).