1. Science and Technology
1.1. Sumerians
1.1.1. Invented the first wheeled vehicles
1.1.2. First people to harness wind
1.1.3. First people to make childrens toys
1.1.4. One of the first people to domesticate animals
1.2. Shang Dynasty
1.2.1. They came up with one of the oldest forms of written communication.
1.2.2. Came up with the Chinese calendar
1.2.3. Came up with the Chinese Script
1.2.4. The first Chinese characters appear in oracle bone inscriptions as well as in bronze vessels.
2. Economy and Trade
2.1. Sumerians
2.1.1. The jobs were pottery makers, stonecutters, bricklayers, metal smiths, farmers, fishers, shepherds, weavers, leather-workers, and sailors
2.1.2. The Sumerians used slaves, but they were not a major part of the economy.
2.1.3. Slave women worked as weavers, pressers, millers, and porters
2.1.4. Seals had been used to stamp a carved insignia on clay before cylindrical seals became widespread for labeling commodities and legal documents.
2.2. Shang Dynasty
2.2.1. The Shang were skilled workers in bone, jade, ceramics, stone, wood, shells, and bronze.
2.2.2. Fishing began to grow as an industry as the people fished in the fresh waters.
2.2.3. Although the area politically controlled by the kings of Yin or Erligang covered only a small part of modern China, communication and traffic with other regions was important.
2.2.4. Metal ores for the production of bronze tools and vessels had to be shipped from the southern mines in modern Hunan and Jiangxi.
3. Religion
3.1. Sumerians
3.1.1. Sumerian religion influenced Mesopotamian mythology
3.1.2. towards the end of sumerian society ziggurats were the preffered place to practice their religion
3.1.3. Anu was the God of Heaven
3.1.4. Enki was the God of fresh water
3.1.5. Sumerian Religion
3.2. Shang Dynasty
3.2.1. All the classes have one thing in common and that is religion.
3.2.2. The people worshiped many gods
3.2.3. One of the gods was Shang Di
3.2.4. Their most powerful God was the God of the sky
3.2.5. Shang Dynasty Religion
4. Arts and Education
4.1. Sumerians
4.1.1. The Sumerian writing system during the early periods was constantly in changing.
4.1.2. The original direction of writing was from top to bottom, but it changed to left-to-right.
4.1.3. Sumerian sculpture served as adornment or ritual equipment for the temples.
4.1.4. The famous votive marble sculptures from Tell Asmar represent tall, bearded figures with huge, staring eyes and long, pleated skirts.
4.2. Shang Dynasty
4.2.1. Ritual axes with human faces, mouth and eyes were made with bronze.
4.2.2. Clay was a common material used for making goods.
4.2.3. Archaeologists discovered musical instruments such as drums and copper cymbals so music was a part of their culture.
4.2.4. craftsman used bronze as one of the main materials.
5. Government and Leaders
5.1. Sumerians
5.1.1. One of the most famous priest-kings was Gilgamesh of Uruk.
5.1.2. Gilgamesh was apparently 2/3 God and 18 feet tall
5.1.3. Ancient Sumerians were given credit for inventing Government
5.1.4. There was a General Assembly of elected men, The King would often ask the assembly for permission to carry out certain things
5.1.5. Sumerian Rulers
5.2. Shang Dynasty
5.2.1. There was a total of 30 emperors.
5.2.2. This dynasty lasted over 600 years
5.2.3. Shang was established by King Tang in 1675 BC after overthrowing emperor jie
5.2.4. The last ruler of the Shang Dynsaty was zhou
6. Geography and Agriculture
6.1. Sumerians
6.1.1. Sumeria is located in Mesopotamia, in the fertile Cresent.
6.1.2. Sumeria is in between two rivers called the Tigris and Euphrates.
6.1.3. Emmer wheat, barley, sheep, and cattle were foremost among the species cultivated and raised for the first time on a grand scale.
6.1.4. By 5000 BC the Sumerians had made agricultural techniques including large-scale intensive cultivation of land, mono-cropping, and organized irrigation
6.2. Shang Dynasty
6.2.1. The farming of millet, wheat, rice, and barley crops provided the main sources of food.
6.2.2. Hunting wasn't too uncommon but they mostly relied on gathering.
6.2.3. Domesticated animals were pigs, dogs, sheep, oxen, and even silkworms.
6.2.4. the ancient Shang developed complex forms of irrigation and flood control
7. Social Structure and Family Life
7.1. Sumerians
7.1.1. The upper class consisted of nobles,priests,government officials, and warriors.
7.1.2. The middle class consisted of Merchants, Traders, and Artisans
7.1.3. The lower class was slaves and beggars
7.1.4. The Husband/Father was the leader of the household and called all the shots
7.2. Shang Dynasty
7.2.1. The Shang created a social pyramid with the kind at the top.
7.2.2. Then there was the military nobility, priests, merchants, and farmers
7.2.3. The oldest male of each family, from nobles to peasants, was the head of the household.
7.2.4. In these times if one member of the family did something wrong committed a crime etc. the whole family could and sometimes would be punished.