Which is a characteristic of civilization?
bronze tools and weapons
an army
art and literature
government

Actually, while the correct answer would be D - Government, I think that another answer is more likely - all of them, with the exception of bronze tools and weapons. No civilization could exist with either of those, if we like it or not. 

Every civilization so far had an army, art and literature, and a type of government. These are defining things for mankind and shape us in a way. The only differing thing is that bronze tools and weapons were only part of a specific time period. The rest, however, has been accompanying us since the dawn of civilization.