1. Arts & Education
1.1. Sumerians
1.1.1. The Sumerian writing system during the early periods was constantly in flux.
1.1.2. The original direction of writing was from top to bottom, but for reasons unknown, it changed to left-to-right very early on around 3000 BCE
1.1.3. By 2000 BCE the writing system started to use exhibit use of phonetic elements
1.1.3.1. art example of Sumerians
1.1.4. The early signs were more "linear." After 3000 BCE the strokes started to evolve into wedges, thus changing the visual style of the signs from linear to "cuneiform".
1.2. Shang/Zhou
1.2.1. Jade, and bronze, represents the highest achievement of Bronze Age material culture.
1.2.2. A good education has always been highly valued in China. The people believed education was the future to a good civilization.
1.2.3. Confucius (the great educator) devoted his time to education.
1.2.4. The Bronze Age was seen as the growth and maturity of the civilization.
1.2.4.1. art of Shang dynasty
2. Science & Technology
2.1. Sumerians
2.1.1. Their science was particularly fruitful in three areas, mathematics, astronomy and medicine.
2.1.1.1. Plow
2.1.2. They developed mathematics to a more advanced level than any contemporary people.
2.1.3. Many technology advances can be attributed to the Sumerians such as irrigation, the sail, clay bricks etc.
2.1.4. They developed an impressive body of scientific knowledge through close observation of the natural world.
2.2. Shang/Zhou
2.2.1. The Bronze Age led to the advances in bronze tools.
2.2.2. The development of Chinese writing was tied to oracle bones.
2.2.2.1. science advancement
2.2.3. During this time they were also able to build strong huge structures like tombs.
2.2.4. Shang astronomers also made a calendar that was based on the cycles of the moon.
3. Government & Leaders
3.1. Sumerians
3.1.1. States organized their populations more tightly than all but a very few in subsequent ages.
3.1.2. Each Sumerian city formed its own city-state, composed of the city itself and the farmland for several miles around.
3.1.3. A temple stood at the very centre of public life, both political and religious.
3.1.4. The temple stood as a center of distribution.
3.2. Shang/Zhou
3.2.1. They were run by a strong monarchy.
3.2.2. The king appointed governors to distant parts of the kingdom.
3.2.3. Wealthy members of the elite enjoyed collecting expensive objects made of bronze or jade.
3.2.4. The king had at his disposal a large army.
4. Religion
4.1. Sumerians
4.1.1. Shaped life of the people in the city-states.
4.1.2. They practiced polytheism which is the worshipping of many gods.
4.1.3. They believed that the gods controlled all natural forces.
4.1.3.1. Religion Sumerians
4.1.4. They also believed that a god protected each city-state. The people would then try to please the gods.
4.2. Shang/Zhou
4.2.1. Scientists conclude that the shang and zhou dynasties believed in after life because they were buried with food and valuable items.
4.2.1.1. religion
4.2.2. Their religion's core was based on worshiping ancestors
4.2.3. They gave their ansesters tombs gifts and expensive materials
4.2.4. They often asked their ansesters for andvice using oracle bones
5. Geography & Agriculture
5.1. Sumerians
5.1.1. They called their land "Sumer".
5.1.1.1. river civilizations of the Sumerians
5.1.2. Cities began to develop here in 3000 BC.
5.1.3. The fertile crescent between the two rivers made for really rich soil. This area was also called the Mesopotamia.
5.1.4. In south Mesopotamia they would receive little rain so crops would get dried out. Other times, the rivers coukd over flow wiping out crops and villages.
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. Annual floods along the Chang Jiang led and the Huang He led to rich soils on the rivers' flood plains
5.2.2. Some regions were better suited for growing things. Southern China by Chang Jiang has a warm climate with lots of rainfall which is good for growing rice. Northern parts were cooler and drier and was more suitable for grains such as wheat and millet.
5.2.2.1. river civilizations
5.2.3. The rivers for irrigation allowed the Chinese to thrive.
5.2.4. Long rivers, fertile soils, temperate climate, and isolated valleys contributed to the growth and early development of China.
5.2.5. To guard against flooding by the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the people developed complex forms of irrigation and flood control.
6. Economy & Trade
6.1. sumerians
6.1.1. Sumerians could not provide certain materials like wood and metals and supplies for their homes and art for themselves so they traded to obtain these materials
6.1.2. slowly men and women separated into different roles
6.1.3. trade was easy for the sumerians because they typically lived by large bodies of water or rivers
6.1.4. They obtained many of their materials for buildings and art through trade.
6.2. Shang/Zhou
6.2.1. Cowry shells were used for currency.
6.2.2. Shang rulers attached great importance to agriculture. Fishing began to grow as an industry as the people fished in the fresh waters.
6.2.3. Trade expanded in the east. Money and goods circulated mostly through commerce. Rich merchants would sometimes be seeded in high office positions.
6.2.4. Fishing began to grow as an industry as the people fished in the fresh waters.
7. Social Structure & Family Life
7.1. Sumerians
7.1.1. Men held political power and made laws while women took care of the home and children.
7.1.2. A distinct hierarchy/ranking developed in their community.
7.1.3. Kings and priests were the highest in class.
7.1.4. The sumerians divided their days into 12 hour periods.
7.2. Shang/Zhou
7.2.1. Children were taught to respect ALL elders
7.2.2. Mothers and fathers treated their kids with love and kindness.
7.2.3. People lived following "Daoism" which encouraged the people to retreat from the laws of society and yield to the laws of nature.
7.2.4. Yin and Yang represented the perfect aspect of nature: male and female, hot or cold, etc..