1. Sumerians (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)
1.1. Example 1: Main form of Mesopotamian art is sculpted figures made of clay or stone, they were usually painted.
1.2. Example 2: Harpist and singers would preform at rituals and parties. Sumerians instruments have even been recovered by archeologist.
1.3. Example 3: Learning cuneiform was kept in small elite groups to priests and officials.
1.4. Example 4: Ancient Mesopotamian literature contained prayers, hymns, historical records, politics and astrology, philosophy, epic poetry and many other types of writing.
1.5. One example of Art
2. Arts and Education
2.1. Shang/Zhou (Huang He: Yellow River)
2.1.1. Example 1:The Shang and Zhou people were very good at making bronze pieces
2.1.2. Example 2: They created pots for rituals, chariots, and more.
2.1.3. Example 3: We skilled with jade as well because of how much of it was in tombs.
2.1.4. Example 4: Bronze production symbolized authority when used in burials and ritual ceremonies.
2.1.5. An Example of Art from the Shang/Zhou (Huang He: Yellow River) civilization
3. Geography and Agriculture
3.1. Sumerians ( Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)
3.1.1. Example 1: The region was located between the Tigris and Euphrates River, in the Fertile Crescent.
3.1.2. Example 2: The soil was well suited for agriculture because the rivers often flooded bringing fertile soil called silt up.
3.1.3. Example 3: In the southern part of the Fertile Crescent growing crops was hard because of the unpredictable weather.
3.1.4. Example 4: The Sumerians grew grains like wheat and barley, and other foods.
3.1.5. A map of the river civilization
3.2. Shang/Zhou (Huang He: Yellow River)
3.2.1. Example 1: In early China they had long rivers, fertile soil, a temperate climate, and isolated valleys.
3.2.2. Example 2: They built their civilization on the Yellow river, which flooded annually. This was a good thing because that meant the river deposited fertile soil for crops.
3.2.3. Example 3: For the use of irrigation these civilizations were built on river valleys. That way the river would be easy to get to to use to irrigate their crops.
3.2.4. Example 4: The fertile soil and rivers, which allowed irrigation, proved to make early China successful in growing food. Including rice, wheat, and millet.
3.2.5. A Map of the Shang/Zhou (Huang He: Yellow River) CIvilization
4. Government and Leaders
4.1. Sumerians (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)
4.1.1. Example 1: Initially, priests governed the city-states.
4.1.2. Example 2: As city-states battled, war chiefs began to rule as kings.
4.1.3. Example 3: Often times in city-states the kings formed dynasties or a series of rulers from one family.
4.1.4. Example 4: There was a Sumerian King's list that listed all the kings and their accomplishments, to show order in society dating back to the beginning.
4.2. Shang/Zhou (Huang He: Yellow River)
4.2.1. Example 1: Zhou Dynasty's King Wen is important because he came up with the plan the conquest of Shang Dynasty.
4.2.2. Example 2: The people in charge of the Zhoe Dynasty was a royal family until the time of their downfall.
4.2.3. Example 3: The Zhou Dynasty harshly controlled the Shang Dynasty.
4.2.4. Example 4: Shang Dynasty's social pyramid from highest to lowest was the king, military nobility, priests, merchants, and then farmers.
5. Religion
5.1. Sumerians (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)
5.1.1. Example 1: The Sumerians practiced polytheism, or the worship of many gods.
5.1.2. Example 2: They believed that the gods controlled all natural forces, they could bring about horrible natural disasters so the Sumerians worked hard to please them.
5.1.3. Example 3: The Sumerians believed the gods were like people in many ways, they ate, loved and fought.
5.1.4. Example 4: They built temples to honor the Gods and priests to perform ceremonies, and the priests held a high status in society.
5.1.5. Sumerian burial coffin, example of a religious artifact
5.2. Shang/Zhou (Huang He: Yellow River)
5.2.1. Example 1: Shang Dynasty believed in polytheistic. The belief in many gods.
5.2.2. Example 2: The Shang Dynasty were strong believers that if their dead ancestors were happy they would have successful crops and be health.
5.2.3. An example of religious artifact
5.2.4. Example 3: Everyone in the Shang Dynasty believed in worshipping the god Shang Ti. They believed he connected heavenly spirits with people on earth.
5.2.5. Example 4: To please the gods they held rituals, prayed, gave offerings, and even gave human sacrifice.
6. Economy and Trade
6.1. Sumerians (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)
6.1.1. Example 1: The Sumerians traded with foreign lands using a writing form more advanced than pictograms.
6.1.2. Example 2: It was thought that the temple had a great influence over the economy.
6.1.3. Example 3: Long-distance trade caravans were set up and the traders were craftsmen and labourers.
6.1.4. Example 4: As kings grew in power the more economic control he gained, and he often land and wealth to his officials.
6.2. Shang/Zhou (Huang He: Yellow River)
6.2.1. Example 1: From the years 772 to 476 BCE in China there was a lot of fighting. States annexed. Because of this trade expanded.
6.2.2. Example 2: Rich merchants sometimes won high office.
6.2.3. Example 3: Money and goods went through commerce.
6.2.4. Example 4: States by the peripheries and rulers normally had more economic strength than the king.
7. Social Structure and Family Life
7.1. Sumerians (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)
7.1.1. Example 1: At the top of the social structure were priests, kings and principal agents. Secondly, were large landowners and wealthy merchants.
7.1.2. Example 2: At the bottom of the social hierarchy, making up the majority of the population were farmers, artisans and laborers. And even below them were slaves who had often been caught during battle.
7.1.3. Example 3: Men held the political power, they made the laws and kept order in the community.
7.1.4. Example 4: Women took care of the home and children, and few received educations.
7.2. Shang/Zhou (Huang He: Yellow River)
7.2.1. Example 1: In the Shang and Zhou dynasties they had a social pyramid. On top was the king followed by the military nobilists, then the priest, merchants and lastly farmers.
7.2.2. Example 2: Burials was the only way you could tell if someone was higher up in the social pyramid or not. For example, if you were very low in the social pyramid you might be thrown down a well.
7.2.3. Example 3: If you were higher up in the social pyramid you would be buried with jade and bronze. Also, the place where you were buried would be much nicer than someone lower in rankings.
7.2.4. Example 4: Ruled by aristocracy.
8. Science and Technology
8.1. Sumerians (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)
8.1.1. Example 1: Mesopotamian priest could predict solstices and eclipses by working out a 12 month calendar based on the cycle of the moon.
8.1.2. Example 2: Doctors had a good understanding of herbs and minerals because they used creams, pills, and bandages.
8.1.3. Example 3: Sumerians created a system of counting time by creating the sexigesmal system; 60 secs in 1 min, 60 mins in 1 hr, and day and night are split into 12 hrs each.
8.1.4. Example 4: Sumerians are responsible for the first development of writing called pictograms.
8.1.5. Sexigesmal counting system, example of new technology
8.2. Shang/Zhou (Huang He: Yellow River)
8.2.1. Example 1: The Shang and Zhou civilizations were very skilled bronze workers. They made bronze pieces for ritual ceremonies, charriots and axes which were used in war.
8.2.2. Example 2: In the Shang dynasty their people invented a way of writing.
8.2.3. Example 3: Priests would write on oracle bones to track the timeline of kings and other history.
8.2.4. Example 4: In their dynasty, the Shang and Zhou used irrigation to water their crops and prevent floods.
8.2.5. One example of new technology