I’ve written many books with only my main characters and a background in mind. But every hero has an origin that starts in a founded civilization with a grounded culture. A few buildings and a couple people that vanish when the action hits doesn’t cut it. There’s commerce, law, religion, government, military, economy, art, and science to account for. And there’s more when you consider people groups, possible prejudices, food sources, craft. A lot goes into building a civilization, but here’s a quick rundown of the major culture points that normally get taken for granted.
Economy
Money. Trade and barter. Services. How civilizations trade and pay for goods can be a strong plot point at the most and an obstacle at the least.
There’s a few different ways to look at a culture’s economy and how goods are exchanged. Sherrilyn Kenyon writes that in the Middle Ages, land was considered the most valuable. A peasant working and living off a single plot of land (serf) was considered more wealthy than a vagabond (no land). This is also where you get caste systems, with the lower predominantly thieves and prostitutes, the middle working men and women, and the upper being close to royalty. When looking back at my projects, I accounted for the people and environment. So my desert race has a trade and barter system because they’re more like family whereas my winter race has a wealthier people group and pay for goods.
This brings up another point that should help with deciding economy: look at the environment and how people react around each other. Community-minded groups think more about people than profit, and depending on the terrain and survival chances, that can affect the value between bronze coins and a loaf of bread. Value is more than paper, and that’s dependent on the values and beliefs of the people which will come later.
Commerce
Commerce is similar to economy but on a larger scale. This can be trading of goods or payment between countries or kingdoms. Usually the question to ask is what main product comes from your civilization. For example, some Native Americans were known for corn. What is your civilization known for? This is a product that will have some demand in other countries and will be traded for other goods or money. The demand of said item will also play a part in the wealth of that region as income will be coming from more than the internal economy. This can also play into the exchange rate of money, which is something to consider if you have multiple cultures.
Law/Punishments
Law is very important. Unless a civilization is run by anarchy, then you can skip this. Otherwise, there’s a lot to choose from. Basing your system of law on an established country’s rules is smart as there’s less to explain to the reader. Adding your own rules is good too, but the reader needs to know the law before it applies. A good example is I, Robot with Will Smith; in the intro scene, the rules about robots are given and are then reaffirmed in a discussion between the main characters (here’s a clip in case you’ve never seen the movie. Also, why have you not seen this movie?).
Punishments need to be established as well. These can be plot points and obstacles, but they have to be established before they apply. A character breaking the law will know that they’ll get executed for this infraction. It won’t be a surprise for them, so it shouldn’t be a surprise for the reader. The only time it can be a surprise is if the character isn’t originally from that culture. In either case, laws and appropriate consequences must be planned so everything makes sense and you stay organized.
Religion
Religion influences the beliefs and actions of a civilization. A Catholic community will act differently from people who are divided between many or no gods. If creating your own, do a little research into major religions of the present and past. Look at rituals and values because this plays a part in one’s motivation. Using current and past religions in your story works as well, especially if the tale takes place on Earth during sometime in history.
You don’t need to say outright that your character believes this or that. The belief you set up shows through their actions, thoughts, and words. Even hypocritical characters show their true values through choices they make. If your story hinges on religion and changing one’s mind toward a belief, then bring it to light when it’s most necessary. A character needs to show their resolve, not just say it.
Government
Again, if your system is anarchy, then you can probably skip this. Otherwise, there’s a few options: democracy, monarchy, socialism/communism. Most of these are in effect now, so there’s plenty of research material into how these governments work. Here are the basics:
- Democracy: People choose laws and leaders
- Monarchy: One lineage is in charge and makes all the choices regarding law
- Socialism/Communism: Everything is shared and equal, meaning no caste systems. Socialism is a step down from Communism, but both inevitably become alike because one person/group must keep things equal and decide laws for the populace
Democracy and Socialism are the more popular in our current world, but these can be modified for your means. For example, my book A War Waged has three variations based on a council of six: the winter race (Chills) vote for their council, the pure race (Tahlans) are chosen by the previous council, and the desert race (Soleets) are chosen by the previous council and keep their identities hidden. Ensure that there is a reason behind the government system, terms of delegates, and beyond. This can be a plot point as well.
Military
While not a major point, it’s important to know how the law is enforced and how wars are fought. Is there a standing army? Volunteer army? Are they primarily a navy or infantry? Positions and code of conduct are important as well because they define how soldiers react to each other and show respect. Between the day to day and combat, there must be enforcers and rules of how they enforce.
Art/Science
Onto the fun stuff. To say that a culture doesn’t have art and science would be ignoring how modern research and decor affect our lives. I personally like low tech situations because characters have to find new ways to communicate and travel other than a phone or car. Even in a low tech situation though, science plays a part in medicine or even magic. Figure out what kind of technological and scientific advancements you want and work on the terminology, laws of science, and who has access.
Art is based primarily on material. Other than that, there’s lots of periods you can mix and match to create a unique art scene. Believe me, I’ve read enough art history to know there’s a lot. Look into materials, maybe surrounding inspiration, and let the characters do the rest. They usually do. :)
Final Thoughts
While this is a lot to think about, there’s even more that goes into creating a realistic civilization. Do outside research. Look at other cultures and government systems for inspiration. Even if you create an entirely different system, you have tried and true possibilities to look at and get ideas from. Don’t stop here; do more research so your civilization and culture feel real.