1. Geography and Agriculture
1.1. Sumerians
1.1.1. They live in Mesopotamia, the region between the Tigris and the Euphrates river. This region was flat, swampy, and well suited for agriculture
1.1.2. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers often flooded, enriching the soil with silly which allowed farmers to successfully grow grains
1.1.3. Southern Mesopotamia was not well suited for agriculture. The region was desert like and received little to no rain so the crops died out in the heat
1.1.4. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers would unpredictably flood, destroying nearby crops and villages
1.2. Shang Zhou
1.2.1. The Development of early China was greatly influenced by fertile soils, long rivers, temperate climates, and isolated valleys
1.2.2. China's first civilizations developed in river valleys, these civilizations were supplied with water by both the Yangzi and the Yellow river
1.2.3. The Yangzi and Yellow river often flooded, keeping the soil rich and fertile. the rivers also picked up a fine, dusty soil called loess that contributed to the fertility of the soil
1.2.4. Southern China, along the Yangzi river, received much rainfall and was suitable for growing rice whereas farther north into China, by the Yellow river, the region was more cool and dry making it more suitable for growing grains
1.2.5. China was also protected from enemies with physical features like mountains, deserts, and hills surrounding the region
2. Economy & Trade
2.1. Shang Zhou
2.1.1. New roads and canals allowed for better transportation and communication.
2.1.2. The agriculture sector of Shang Zhou was one of the most important parts of their economy.
2.1.3. This era in Shang Zhou was known as the iron age, because the people discovered iron was stronger and cheaper then bronze.
2.1.4. Shang Zhou cities grew in size.
2.2. Sumerian
2.2.1. For agricultural support the sumerians made individual tracts which were irrigated through a system of dams and canals surrounding the land of each city/state.
2.2.2. Trade occurred by transportation of crops and textiles that where traded for stone, metal, and timber by the Sumerian merchants to other lands.
2.2.3. The Sumerian economy was based on agriculture, and influenced by technology advances.
2.2.4. The first homes of the Sumerians were built out of bundles of reeds, but later on developed into sun baked mud bricks.
3. Government and Leaders
3.1. Shang Zhou
3.2. Fu Xi was believed to have brought civilization to the earliest people
3.3. The Shang dynasty formed around 1766 bc
3.4. China ruled a strong monarchy
3.5. Sumerians
3.5.1. War chiefs started to rule their tribes as a king would
3.5.2. Many of the city-state kings formed dynasty's
3.5.3. Priests in Sumer were the main power over all city-states
3.5.4. City-states battle to rule
4. Religion
4.1. Sumerians
4.1.1. The Sumerians practiced polytheism
4.1.2. Gods controlled all natural sources and protected each city-state
4.1.3. They believed Gods could bring rich harvest, or raging floods
4.1.4. They built temples where priests offered the Gods food and drinks
4.2. Shang Zhou
4.2.1. They filled tombs with valuable possessions for the dead to use in the afterlife
4.2.2. They believed in an afterlife
4.2.3. Often, they offered gifts to ancestors to keep them happy in the afterlife
4.2.4. They went to their ancestors for advice
5. Sumerian River Civilization Map
6. Shang Zhou River Civilization Map
7. Sumerian Religious Temple
8. Shang Zhou Religious Tomb
9. Social Strutures and Family Life
9.1. Sumarians
9.1.1. The Sumerian society consisted of a caste system made up of three classes, Amelu, Mushkinu, and slaves.
9.1.2. On top were the Amelu consisting of kings and priests. Next were the Mushkinu, made up of farmers, laborers, or artisans and at the bottom were the slaves
9.1.3. Men held the power in the family, they had power politically and could make the laws, while the women were at home caring for the children
9.1.4. Although the children were loved and cared for, they could be sold into slavery by their parents to pay off debt
9.2. Shang Zhou
9.2.1. The Shang society formed a social pyramid. At the top were the kings and below them were priests, merchants, military nobility, and farmers
9.2.2. Social status was demonstrated through burial. Those who were high up on the pyramid were buried in ornate pit tombs surrounded by various objects for them to use in the afterlife
9.2.3. Those of a lower class were buried in all different sized tombs depending on their status. Some were even thrown into wells
9.2.4. Many people spent the majority of their time in the fields tending to crops, but the wealthy had more time to do things they enjoyed like hunting or collecting bronze or jade objects
10. Arts & Education
10.1. Shang Zhou
10.2. They were the first culture in China to completely create a writing system.
10.3. They created bronze tools and weapons
10.4. They created ceramics, and carvings into wood for art
10.5. They made silk textiles
10.6. Sumerians
10.6.1. Sumerians potters decorated pots with ceader oil paints.
10.6.2. The Sumerians had a lot of architecture like ramps, arches, and columns.
10.6.3. Sumerians wrote using sharp styluses to carve wedge shaped symbols into clay tablets. This form of writing is called cuniform
10.6.4. Cuniform was used to keep records, write laws, and produce literature such as poems, songs, and stories
11. Science and technology
11.1. Sumerians
11.1.1. The Sumerians invented the wheel, for pottery and building variety of vehicles.
11.1.2. The Sumerians also gathered medical knowledge, and were even able to perform basic surgeries.
11.1.3. They invented the plow, and learned how to use bronze to make stronger tools.
11.1.4. They developed a math system, and learned how to use geometry.
11.2. Shang Zhou
11.2.1. The people of Shang Zhou learned how to use iron which was a backbone of their economy.
11.2.2. The population grew which led to the development of larger cities, and the building of roads and canals.
11.2.3. The farmers learned new techniques that increased harvest sizes.
11.2.4. The creation of the catapult helped strengthen the Shang Zhou army.