Main Entry: civ·i·li·za·tion Pronunciation: "si-v&-l&-'zA-sh&n
Function: noun
Date: 1772
1 a :
a relatively high level of cultural and technological development; specifically : the stage of cultural development at which writing and the keeping of written records is attained b : the culture characteristic of a particular time or place
2 : the process of becoming civilized
3 a : refinement of thought, manners, or taste
b : a situation of urban comfort
Main Entry: civ·i·lize
Pronunciation: 'si-v&-"lIz
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -lized; -liz·ing
Date: 1601
transitive senses
1 : to cause to develop out of a primitive state; especially : to bring to a technically advanced and rationally ordered stage of cultural development
1a is the common usage, right. 1b is close to my understanding. Since place or epoch refers, generally speaking, to many cultures, my understanding of "civilization" is compliant with 1b.