Civilization development stages

There are two main approaches to determining the degree of development of civilization - by the number of scientific achievements and by the amount of energy consumed.

Definition by the degree of scientific progress

Stage 0

Stones and sticks. A cave is used as a home. Minimal knowledge of the surrounding world and minimal opportunities for changing the environment.

Stage 1

Metal processing, farming, construction of structures, the beginning of the development of science, and the discovery of the first physical constants.

Stage 2

The internal combustion engine, nuclear power plants, rockets, computers.

Stage 3

Orbital stations, supercomputers, landing on neighboring planets, thermonuclear reactors.

Stage 4

Interplanetary civilization, active use of the space of the solar system, attempts to overcome interstellar space.

Stage 5

Colonies near other stars, FTL technology, antigravity, active expansion.

Stage 6

The interstellar community, routine interstellar flights, attempts to voyage into neighboring galaxies.

Stage 7

Civilizations at that level of development are capable of creation and destruction of objects of a planetary scale and to making a significant impact on the processes taking place in the stars, to penetrate into other realities and dimensions.

Stage 8

Civilizations at that level of development are capable of breaking the laws of physics, create and destroy stellar systems, or even galaxies, accurately map and predict future states of systems with high entropy (Such as long-term evolutionary processes in planetary ecosystems).

Stage 9+

The level of development characterized by the capability of twisting the fabric of space and time, freely changing physical constants, creating and destroying universes; the potential is equal to that of the Christian God if not surpasses it. Further progress is difficult to imagine (if at all possible). Perhaps the tenth step allows you to control reality itself.

It is worth noting that it is needed to adequately consider the entire civilization as a whole. Its level is determined by average achievements and not by individual bursts of high technology. If a civilization of the third stage obtained a ship with FTL, it will not become a civilization of the fifth stage.

Star Wars, for example, is mostly located at or near Stage 7. There may also be civilizations that do not fit into the classification due to their uniqueness. For example, Zerg or Tyranids, who do not have the slightest idea of ​​what an internal combustion engine and atomic energy are, but at the same time make interplanetary and interstellar flights without any problems.

Determination by the amount of energy

Also known as the "Kardashev Scale". This is a more mathematical and abstract type of classification of civilizations, not tied to specific technologies or discoveries.

Type 0

A civilization with insufficient energy consumption to qualify for Type 1.

Type 1

A civilization, the energy consumption of which is comparable to the power received by the planet from the central star and the energy sources of the planet itself. Estimated power consumption is approximately 10¹⁶−10¹⁷ W.

Type 2

A civilization whose energy consumption is comparable to the power of the central star of the planetary system. Estimated power consumption is approximately 4 ·10²⁶ W. One of the hypothetical forms of a civilization of the second type is the civilization of the Dyson sphere (construction of astro-engineering structures).

Type 3

A civilization whose energy consumption is comparable to the power of the galaxy. Estimated power consumption is approximately 4 ·10³⁷W.

Type 4

A civilization whose energy consumption is comparable to the power of the universe. Estimated power consumption is approximately 10⁴⁹−10⁵⁰ W.