1. Science & Technology
1.1. Sumerians
1.1.1. Invented the wheel , plow, bronze tooling, sewers, medical knowledge, performed surgery. Developed math system based on the #60.
1.1.2. Developed the first writing system called cuneiform.
1.2. Shang Zhou
1.2.1. Writing on oracle bones. Built huge, stable structures such as tombs. Created a precise calendar of the moon cycles and maybe the first money system.
1.2.2. Invented catapults
2. Geography & Agriculture
2.1. Sumerians
2.1.1. Mesopotamia: between the Mediterranean Sea & the Persian Gulf
2.1.2. Enriched soil good for growing wheat and barley
2.2. Shang Zhou
2.2.1. Located on the Huang He valley in China
2.2.2. Excellent soil for growing rice, wheat & millet.
3. Arts & Education
3.1. Sumerian
3.1.1. Ivory carved objects, sculptures with large eyes & cylinder seals used to sign documents.
3.1.2. Some upper-class women received educations & served as priestesses in the temples.
3.2. Shang Zhou
3.2.1. Created highly decorated bronze vessels & objects mostly used in religious rituals.
3.2.2. In the late Zhou period, Confucianism & Daoism were being taught.
4. Social Structure & Family Life
4.1. Sumerians
4.1.1. Men held political power & made laws. Women took care of home & children.
4.1.2. Hierarchy: Top were the kings, priests, principal agents. Next, landowners & wealthy merchants. Then, artisans, farmers, laborers. Bottom, slaves.
4.2. Shang Zhou
4.2.1. Ruled by a strong monarchy, kings and his court & wealthy nobles.
4.2.2. Farmers had to be soldiers at times and also work with the slaves building projects while the wealthy lived leisurely: hunting, collecting expensive objects.
5. Government & Leaders
5.1. Sumerians
5.1.1. Priests initially governed the city-states. Later war chiefs began to rule as kings. Dynasties were formed.
5.1.2. Priests held a very high status until the city-states battled for dominance.
5.2. Shang Zhou
5.2.1. The Zhou conquered the Shang. So the Chinese would accept the Zhou, the Zhou said they were ruled by the Mandate of Heaven.
5.2.2. If a dynasty failed, it was said because the gods claimed they had become corrupt.
6. Economy & Trade
6.1. Sumerians
6.1.1. Traded textiles for metals, timber & stone.
6.1.2. They didn't have enough materials for building and art so they had to trade with Southwest Asia & beyond
6.2. Shang Zhou
6.2.1. Due to good agriculture, economy was strong. Especially for the dynasty & the wealthy.
6.2.2. Much of China is well isolated due to mountains, deserts & rivers. Unsure if there was much trade.
7. Religion
7.1. Sumerians
7.1.1. Practiced polytheism, worshiped many gods. They worked hard to please the gods, treated them like humans.
7.1.2. The people built ziggurats & temples to please the gods where priests offered the gods food & drink & held ceremonies.
7.2. Shang Zhou
7.2.1. Believed in the afterlife. They would put valuable items in their tombs in case they needed them.
7.2.2. Asked their ancestors for advice through the use of oracle bones.