1. Geography and Agiculture
1.1. Huang He (Yellow River)
1.1.1. There is temperate climates, and Isolated valleys
1.1.2. They have a soil call Loess, its fine dusty soil that has been carried into china by desert winds
1.1.3. The climate is cool and dry, its very good for grains, wheat and millet
1.1.4. The Isolation help the early civilization grow and develop faster
1.1.5. Its a very agricultural civilization, people spent lots of time in the fields tending to their crops
1.2. Egypt
1.2.1. The Nile River was a big part of the geography in Egypt. The Nile is the longest river in the world. It flows 4,000 miles through Africa.
1.2.2. Sahara desert is the largest desert in the world. It was so vast it prevented people from trying to invade Egypt.
1.2.3. The Nile has the biggest delta. The silt collected in the river was so plentiful the delta areas were called the black land.
1.2.4. Cataracts filled the Nile. Their fast currents and rockiness made it hard to travel along the Nile and made it difficult for countries to invade Egypt.
2. Religon
2.1. Huang He (Yellow River)
2.1.1. Believed in afterlife, in which the ruler would still need riches and servants. Found bronze, jade and sacrificed prisoners of war in the tombs of the rulers
2.1.2. Their religion was centered on ancestor worship and cooked them ritual meals.
2.1.3. They offered gifts to their ancestors to keep them happy in the afterlife.
2.1.4. Used Oracle Bones to get advice from their ancestors. Asked a question on the bone and hot metal was placed on the bones and priest would interpret the meaning of the cracks on the bones to find the answer to their question.
2.2. Egypt
2.2.1. Egyptians worshiped many gods and goddesses. The gods they worshiped changed over the years of the kingdom. The sun god, Anubis, and the trio of Osiris were some of the central god and goddesses worshiped.
2.2.2. Egyptians would make temples for homes and in honor of their gods. The temples made usually had obelisks. Typically the temples were big and decorated.
2.2.3. They believed after a person dies a spiritual being called ka was releases
2.2.4. The Egyptians would mummify the dead. mummification is a process that reserved the body so it could travel to the land if the dead.
3. Arts and Education
3.1. Egypt/ Nile
3.1.1. The 2 kingdoms spoke different dialects or versions of the same language.
3.1.2. Ancient pyramids were built as tombs for Egyptian rulers.
3.1.3. Pyramids were not built by slaves, but my peasants.
3.1.4. Each pyramid had a hollow chamber with a dead king buried with treasure.
3.2. Huang He (Yellow River)
3.2.1. They first developed writing by doing it on bones, it was a big part of their life
3.2.2. They started working with bronze a lot, but then moved more Iron and made iron weapons
3.2.3. They made lots of tombs for the dead, they thought it was necessary for them to have some of their things with them in the after life
3.2.4. Iron Metallurgy were used for farming tools, utensils and weapons because of its strength
4. Economy and Trade
4.1. Egypt/ Nile
4.1.1. The Egyptians traded with the Nubians, Phoenicans, and Minoans of Greece.
4.1.2. census takers kept track of the kingdoms population.
4.1.3. The Egyptian government collapsed in 2100 B.C. because of 200 years of invasions, economic problems, famine and disease.
4.1.4. The middle kingdom collapsed and fell to invaders in 1650 B.C.
4.2. Huang He (Yellow River)
4.2.1. There is evidence they may have created the world's first systems of money.
4.2.2. Traveled along the Silk Road to trade items.
4.2.3. Used natural water on their plants and crops so their crops grew better and in return their economy improved.
4.2.4. China traded with other civilizations, that is how they got their wealth.
5. Science and Technology
5.1. Egypt/ Nile
5.1.1. Deadly trap doors were built in pyramids to protect treasures.
5.1.2. Fortresses were built around and along the nile to protect the pople and secure trade routes.
5.1.3. Hyksos tribe defeated the Egyptians by using military technology.
5.1.4. Military technology included horse drawn chariots, armor and strong bows.
5.2. Huang He (Yellow River)
5.2.1. Built huge, stable, structures and tombs.
5.2.2. Astronomers created a precise calender based on the cycles of the Moon.
5.2.3. Created highly decorative bronze objects for spiritual rituals.
5.2.4. Created the earliest of Chinese writing, pictures and symbols on Oracle Bones.
6. Social Structure and Family
6.1. Huang He (Yellow River)
6.1.1. There was a Shang King and he ruled from the capital city of Anyang
6.1.2. They believed in supernatural forces, and that they could talk to the Gods and receive help when needed the help or wanted it
6.1.3. The father has all the power in the family, he decides everything, from the amount of education his children get, to the job his son has
6.1.4. The mother has no power, she is not even allowed to own her own properties
6.2. Egypt
6.2.1. Egyptians had had a very structured society similar to a food change but with people. Pharaohs and the royal families at the top and peasant farmers and slaves at the bottom.
6.2.2. Scribes, people that could read and write were valued to the Egyptians. If you wanted to gain social status becoming a scribe would move you up.
6.2.3. Family was orientated by social status. Pharaohs more likely were married to their sisters however they could have multiple wives. "Normal" Egyptian men had one wife and were head of the family.
6.2.4. Housing varied on wealth and social status also. Royal or Noble families usually lived in large palaces. "Middle class" Egyptian families might have lived in brick houses with a couple of rooms. Poor families commonly lived in small huts.
7. Government and Leaders
7.1. Egypt
7.1.1. Menes was a ruler from upper Egypt.
7.1.2. Menes founded Egypt's first dynasty.
7.1.3. Pharaohs were the Egyptian leaders. They held all rule and owned the entire land. Pharaohs were thought to be human forms of Gods.
7.1.4. When the Great Nubians took over Egypt, they ruled everyone.
7.2. Huang He (Yellow River)
7.2.1. China was ruled by a strong monarchy.
7.2.2. At the capital city of Anyang Shang Kings were surrounded by a cart of wealthy nobles to keep the city safe.
7.2.3. The King appointed governors to rule distant parts of the Kingdom.
7.2.4. The King also had a large army to fight opponents outside of China and to prevent rebellions.