1. Arts/Education
1.1. Sumeria
1.1.1. -Sumerians learned to use geometry, which was necessary to build elaborate structures and irrigation systems
1.1.2. -small objects/statues would be carved out of ivory
1.1.3. - Sumerians created the earliest form of writing, called cuneiform, which carried through many generations as a way to document their everyday lives
1.1.4. -most of the art and small statues were left at the temple as an offering to the gods
1.2. Shang/Zhou
1.2.1. Shang: Chinese writing began to develop, which was used for expressing thoughts and ideas
1.2.2. Shang: People began to make many jars and plaques out of bronze to give to their gods.
1.2.3. Zhou: metals such as bronze were the most common of mediums that the Zhou used to craft things
1.2.4. nobles built schools to teach their children, as they would be the officials of the future
2. Science and Technology
2.1. Sumeria
2.1.1. -invented the wheel, which was used for pottery and variety of vehicles
2.1.2. -plow led to more efficient and successful farming
2.1.3. -Sumerians were among the first formal astronomers and began to develop a sense of science and what was going on around them
2.1.4. -waterproof boats and watercrafts started to make an appearance, making the transportation of goods and people easier and faster
2.2. Shang/Zhou
2.2.1. Shang: objects for religious rituals were crafted from bronze, along with the development of large structures such as tombs
2.2.2. Shang: irrigation systems were developed and put in place, making crops more prosperous, increasing population size
2.2.3. Zhou: chariots were made that gave the Zhou an upper hand in wars and battles
2.2.4. Zhou: iron weapons and tools were developed to strengthen the army, along with the creation of the first ever catapult and Calvary
3. Government and Leaders
3.1. Sumeria
3.1.1. -priests held one of the highest political and social rankings
3.1.2. -split into City-States, which were independent from each other and were fully self-reliant centers
3.1.3. -war chiefs would step up to rule as kings when the city-states battled for dominance
3.1.4. -religion was used to help rule, there was no separation between government and religion
3.2. Shang/Zhou
3.2.1. Shang: the king would appoint governors for ruling of distinct parts of the kingdom
3.2.2. Shang: the King was both a political and religious leader, and had power over everything else
3.2.3. Zhou: the emperor divided the land into fiefs that were usually ruled by his relatives
3.2.4. Zhou: the Zhou used monarchy as their form of government, and the king ruled by the Mandate of Heaven
4. Economy and Trade
4.1. Sumeria
4.1.1. -the people pf Sumer would trade with people across Southwest Asia for metals, timber, and stone
4.1.2. -trade set up a social hierarchy dividing the people into those who had more to trade vs. people who had nothing at all
4.1.3. -Sumerian economy was based on agriculture, which was inspired by the technological advances going on in the community
4.1.4. -slaves were used for work and the making of some goods, but they did not play a major role in the economy and trade system
4.2. Shang/Zhou
4.2.1. Shang: it is believed that the Shang were one of the world's first civilizations to use a money system, making them a more advanced society than once thought and led to our economy and currency today
4.2.2. Shang: slaves and servants were responsible for all economic functions in this society
4.2.3. Zhou: as they learned to use iron more, this metal became the backbone of the Zhou's economy; it could be traded and used to make goods
4.2.4. Zhou: the Zhou used a system of shells as a way to pay each for services or goods that were bought and used
5. Religion
5.1. Sumeria
5.1.1. -Sumerians practiced polytheism, the worship of multiple Gods
5.1.2. -Sumerians practiced polytheism, the worship of multiple Gods-the Gods that were worshiped were believed to be very human-like in nature; the only thing that made them different were they powers they posessed
5.1.3. - Sumerians believed mankind's job was to please the Gods, and fulfill their wants and needs.
5.1.4. -each Sumerian city had one large temple/place of worship that was seen as very important and very holy
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. Shang: believed in an afterlife in which a ruler would still need his riches and servants
5.2.2. Shang: worshipped a god by the name of Shang Ti, who was believed to link humans to heavenly beings
5.2.3. Zhou: Oracles and other holy obects were inherited from the Shang Dynasty
5.2.4. Zhou: believed that the Gods they believed in help choose and support their rulers
6. Geography and Agriculture
6.1. Sumeria
6.1.1. -large cities began to appear in Sumer by 3000 B.C. and some were surrounded by massive walls to protect the city
6.1.2. -located in Southern Mesopotamia, an area of the world where farming posesd many challenges
6.1.3. The Sumerians relied greatly on the river for trade, and the growing and prosperity of their crops
6.1.4. This civilization was in an area surrounded by mountains, which provided an amazing natural defense system against other civilizations.
6.2. Shang/Zhou
6.2.1. Shang: built large institutions in the center of the Huang He valley
6.2.2. Like the Sumerians, the Shang Dynasty was surrounded by mountain, that protected them from attack ers.
6.2.3. Zhou all farm lands were owned by the nobles, who wers the minority of the population.
6.2.4. Zhou: size of the harvest began to increase as the Zhou learned and used new agricultural techniques.
7. Social Structure and Family Life
7.1. Sumeria
7.1.1. -the social hierarchy was set up in the following order: kings, priests, principal agents, large landowners, wealthy merchants, artisans, farmers and then slaves, holding the lowest social ranking
7.1.2. -men could hold political positions while the women stayed home and took care of children; only a few women belonging to upper class families were allowed to have an education
7.1.3. -men were also dominant in the household and among family life. A man could initiate a divorce with very little reason, but a woman had to go before the priest
7.1.4. -a large disparity existed between the highest and lower classes, leading to arguments and further separation of the classes
7.2. Shang/Zhou
7.2.1. Shang: The wealthy people of the Shang society enjoyed expensive objects made of bronze and jade
7.2.2. Shang: Priests held one of the highest social rankings among the people
7.2.3. Zhou: people honored family relationships and stressed social status distinctions
7.2.4. Zhou:with a surplus of food populations and societies grew larger and stronger