1. Confucian ideals changed this social hierarchy near the end of the Zhou.
2. Zhou society's social pyramid was the king, the prince, and then the nobles.
3. Science and Technology
3.1. Sumerians
3.1.1. New technology
3.1.2. The Sumerians created irrigation, the plough, the sail, clay bricks, the wheel, metal-working, writing, accounting, filing, glass and lamp making, weaving and much more.
3.1.3. Sumerian science focused on mathematics, astronomy and medicine. They created the foundation of all modern math.
3.1.4. There is evidence that Sumerian doctors had developed rational techniques of diagnosis, prognosis, physical examination, and prescriptions.
3.1.5. They discovered many new plants, animals, and geographical features. They studied the natural world very closely.
3.2. Shang/Zhou
3.2.1. The Chinese language was created in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.
3.2.2. The Shang Dynasty was when the calendar was first worked on.
3.2.3. During the Zhou dynasty, basic geometry was created. They also created fractions and tallies.
3.2.4. The calendar was completed during the Zhou Dynasty. They studied stars closely and discovered magnetism.
3.2.5. Shang/Zhou Technology
4. Geography and Agriculture
4.1. Shang/Zhou
4.1.1. Annual floods along the Chang Jiang and the Huang He deposited rich soil on the rivers flood plains
4.1.2. The combination of rivers for irrigation and fertile soil allowed the Chinese to thrive.
4.1.3. Much of China is covered with mountains, hills, and desert that protected China from invasion.
4.1.4. Southern China was excellent for growing rice. Further along the north it was better for growing grains.
4.1.5. River Civilization
4.2. Sumerians
4.2.1. Buildings in the early cities were made of mud bricks
4.2.2. Early cities were surrounded by fields
4.2.3. A flat swampy region was good for farming
4.2.4. There was little rain
4.2.5. River Civilization
5. Arts and Education
5.1. Sumerians
5.1.1. Sumerian writing is called cuneiform
5.1.2. Sumerian architecture includes the uses of arches, ramps, and columns.
5.1.3. Sumerian sculptures include statues with large, wide-open eyes, as well as small objects carved out of ivory.
5.1.4. Sumer's most famous works of art are its cylinder seals, small stone cylinders engraved all around with detailed designs.
5.1.5. Sumerian Art
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. Artists created highly decorative bronze vessels and objects.
5.2.2. Early Shang texts used picture symbols to represent objects or ideas.
5.2.3. The Zhou started to do their work in iron.
5.2.4. The earliest Chinese bronzes were made by the method known as piece-mold casting.
5.2.5. Shang/Zhou Art
6. Social Structure and Family Life
6.1. Sumerians
6.1.1. Sumer social society was thought to be made up of four classes including nobles, commoners, clients, and slaves.
6.1.2. The social structure of the Sumerians was based off the families wealth.
6.1.3. Shang Dynasty's social pyramid had kings on top, followed by the military nobility, priests, merchants, and farmers.
6.1.4. Children were expected to respect their parents because disrespecting them would be a grave sin. Children could be sold if the family was in a very bad financial situation.
6.1.5. Men were far more powerful than women, but women could go anywhere and do anything as long as their husband allowed it.
6.2. Shang/Zhou
6.2.1. Local lords were expected to accept the authority of the king as the head of a large family.
7. Government and Leaders
7.1. Sumerians
7.1.1. Priests held a high status in Sumer and initially governed the city-states.
7.1.2. As city-states battled for dominance, war chiefs began to rule as kings.
7.1.3. Kings served as chief representatives of the gods and preformed ceremonies to please the gods.
7.1.4. In time, the kings made the city-states into dynasties.
7.2. Shang/Zhou
7.2.1. During the Shang period, China was ruled by a strong monarchy.
7.2.2. Governors were in charge of cities in distant places from the kingdom.
7.2.3. When the Zhou dynasty conquered the Shang dynasty, they introduced the mandate of Heaven.
7.2.4. The Mandate of Heaven said that the gods would support a just ruler, but would not let anyone corrupt their power.
8. Economy and Trade
8.1. Sumerians
8.1.1. Many of the materials that they got for their buildings and art were from trading.
8.1.2. They traded with people across southwest Asia and even farther.
8.1.3. They traded woven textiles for metals, timber, and also stone.
8.1.4. A distinct social hierarchy developed as trade enriched the civilization.
8.2. Shanh/Zhou
8.2.1. People fished in the fresh water and the fishing industry grew.
8.2.2. In the handicraft industry they had a variety of techniques.
8.2.3. They mainly grew and produced their own supplies and materials.
8.2.4. Working with copper and jade become a big industry during this time.
9. Religion
9.1. Shang/Zhou
9.1.1. religious artifact
9.1.2. The Shang may have believed in an afterlife in which a ruler was buried with prisoners of war because he would need them as servants.
9.1.3. Their religion was centered around the idea of ancestor worship.
9.1.4. They worshiped a supreme god named Shang Di.
9.1.5. The Shang asked fro advice from their spirits through the use of oracle bones. They put a hot piece of metal on the animal bone and they asked a question to their ancestors. When the bone cracked, a special priest would interpret them.
9.2. Sumerians
9.2.1. They built ziggorats and temples where priests offered the gods food/drink and also held ceromonies.
9.2.2. The Sumerians believed that the gods controlled all natural forces such as wind, water, and storms.
9.2.3. They practiced polytheism, or the belief in many gods.
9.2.4. They believed that a god protected each city state.
9.2.5. religious artifact