Re: what do you say about Civilization in the following sense?

Seyed,

You should consult the following volume:
Sanderson, Stephen K.,  ed.  1995.  Civilizations and World-Systems:  Two 
Approaches to the Study of World-Historical Change.  Walnut Creek, CA:  
Altamira Press.

There are lots of entries on exactly this topic.

You may also find the following useful:
Denemark, Robert A., Jonathan Friedman, Barry K. Gills, and George Modelski, 
eds.  2000. World System History:  The Social Science of Long?Term Change.  
London: Routledge.

tom hall

Thomas D. [tom] Hall
Department of Sociology & Anthropology
420 Anderson Bldg #f
DePauw University
Greencastle, IN 46135
dept: 765-658-4516
off:  765-658-4519
web:  http://acad.depauw.edu/~thall/hp1.htm