習染 is often, if not always, used with sth in a negative sense. (See the link: [www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk] )
The example sentence has incorrectly used it with 文明 (civilization) which has a neutral sense. A better verb could be 接觸 (get in contact with).
The example sentence has incorrectly used it with 文明 (civilization) which has a neutral sense. A better verb could be 接觸 (get in contact with).