1. Religion
1.1. Sumerian
1.1.1. they believed in polytheism.polytheism is the practiced/worship of many gods
1.1.2. they believed that a god or goddess protected each city/state
1.1.3. the sumerians had a caste system. they had four creator gods An Enlil Enki and Ninhursag. then there 50 children of an also called annunkai
1.2. Shang/Zhou
1.2.1. they asked ancestors for advice though oracle bones. inscribed bits of animal bones.the leader would press hot metal. cracking would happen.they would interept the cracks.
1.2.2. they offered gifts to there ancestors to make them happy and fulfilled in the aferlife.
1.2.3. there is a ruler in the afterlife that was a leader in life that died.
1.2.4. they have three classes of detites on one class you had heaven sun and moon.
2. Economy and Trade
2.1. Semerians
2.1.1. Lacked many raw materials such as wood and metals.
2.1.2. They traded with poeple across Southwest Asia and beyond, exchanging woven textiles for metals, timber, and stone.
2.1.3. Man held potitical power and made laws while woman took care of the children.
2.1.4. The economy was based on agriculture, which was influenced by nmajor technological advances in Mesopotamian history.
2.2. Shang/Zhou
2.2.1. They lived in the lower parts of the Yellow river.
2.2.2. Since they had an abundance supply of metals they used them to trade for raw materials that they needed badly.
2.2.3. Many of the people were farmers which was very common back then. People on the other side of the river grew rice which wasnt very common crop to grow at the time.
3. Government and Leaders
3.1. Sumerians
3.1.1. The ancient sumerians are credited for the invention of government, it was invented to organize labor and many other things.
3.1.2. Sumerian government started out with the creation of city states , When agriculture they grouped together in cities
3.1.3. Early sumerians had priests lead the city that they were in at the time. The priest would later on not lead which you will read about now
3.1.4. As Sumer became more wealthy they flipped to a new form of government. Where instead of each city being ruled by a priest, You had one man in control of multiple cities
3.2. Shang/Zhou
3.2.1. During the shang period the kingdom was ruled by a strong monarchy. To help rule distant parts of the kingdom the King appointed governors to rule those certain parts.
4. Geography and agriculture
4.1. Semerians
4.1.1. The first Sumerians to arrive called their land Sumer.
4.1.2. Large vities had begun to appear in Sumer by 3000 B.C
4.1.3. The structures were made out of mud,bricks, because other sources were scarce.
4.1.4. They lived mostly along the Tigres and the Euthraites rivers.
4.2. Shang/Zhou
4.2.1. They belived in afterlife.
4.2.2. They were smart people.Their acheivement show that.
4.2.3. They were able to build hugh structures to pay sespect to people in afterlife.
4.2.4. They had huge civilizations that spread huge distances.
5. Social Structure, Family Life
5.1. Semerians
5.1.1. The first sumerians to arrive called their land "sumer". Large cities had begun to appear in sumer by 3000bc. They mad structures, these structures were made out of mud bricks. They used mud bricks because other materials were scarce. The sumerian civilization produced great culture achievment.
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. China's first civilizations developed in river valleys. Shang china created many institutions that carried into many later chinese cultures. The shang believed in afterlife. The shang were also very smart people, thier acheivments show that.
6. Arts and Education
6.1. Semerians
6.1.1. The Summer's most famous artwork was called cylinder seals, Small stone cylinders engraved all around with detailed designs.
6.1.2. Sumerian sculptures include statues with large eyes as well as small object made out of ivory.
6.1.3. In the Sumerian culture many families would send their boys to school to learn how to write cuneiform, Cuneiform was the writing that they used back then.
6.1.4. The school was run by the priest and only boys could go to school, It was said to be pretty challenging.
6.2. Shang/Zhou
6.2.1. Some Zhou art was Jade Carvings, Jade carving is an ornamental stone artwork used in a variety of jewellery art.
6.2.2. Jade Carvings also encouraged the growth of goldsmithing, goldsmithing is the applied art of metalworking with gold or bronze.
6.2.3. Nobles built schools to teach their children, as these children would be the officials of the future
6.2.4. Only children with wealthy families would go to schools, as the children of poorer families could only dream of going to school
7. Science And Technology
7.1. Semerians
7.1.1. Developed a math system based on the #60 which is why we divide an hour into 60 minutes.
7.1.2. Learned to use geometry,which was necessary to build elaborate structures and irragation systems.
7.1.3. Invented the plow and learned to use bronze to make stronger tools and weapons.
7.1.4. They invented the wheel, which they used both to make pottery and to build a variety of supplies.
7.2. Shang/Zhou
7.2.1. Able to build huge, stable structures such as tombs.
7.2.2. Astronomers created a percise calender based on the cycles of the moon.
7.2.3. They made huge advancements in philosophy and culture, such as Confucianism,Daoism, and Legalism.
7.2.4. They made tombs to scrafise the captured, which then were killed.