CULTURE AS A MAIN COMPONENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETY IN DIFFERENT ERAS

Abstract

The article considers culture as a determining factor in the development of society, influencing all spheres of its life – from education and science to politics and economics. Culture is the basis of the existence and development of any society. It determines moral, ethical, social and spiritual guidelines that influence all spheres of human life. Culture shapes a nation's identity, promotes social cohesion, and acts as an engine of progress. In different historical periods, culture has acted as a driving force of progress, changing ways of thinking and social structures. From ancient civilization, which laid the foundations of philosophy, art, and law, to medieval culture, which developed under the influence of religion and feudal traditions, each era demonstrates that culture is an integral part of social development. The Renaissance brought humanistic ideals that stimulated the development of science and art, and the Enlightenment laid the foundations of democratic values and human rights. In the 19th and 20th centuries, culture became an instrument of social transformation, reflecting the processes of industrialization, national revivals, and the struggle for freedom. The modern era of digital technologies and globalization has opened new horizons for cultural exchange, but at the same time has created the threat of unification and the disappearance of local cultural traditions. The study of the cultural development of a society allows us to understand its role in the formation of national identity, social order, and moral principles. Culture not only reflects the past, but also paves the way for the future, ensuring the stability and dynamics of civilizational progress. In different historical eras, culture was the driving force of change, determining the directions of development of civilizations.