1. Geography and Agriculture
1.1. Sumeria
1.1.1. Sumeria was founded in the fertile crescent between the Mediterranean and Persian gulf.
1.1.2. Flat swampy region suited for agriculture
1.1.3. Rich soil between the Tigris and Euphrates called "Mesopotamia"
1.1.4. The region received little rain so water was dependent on rainfall and snowmelt on mountains
1.2. Shang/Zhao
1.2.1. Himalayas separated China from India so no wars were waged against them
1.2.2. Gobi desert stopped anyone anyone from crossing to their land
1.2.3. Rivers for irrigation and fertile soil helped China thrive
1.2.4. China is covered in mountains hills and desert
2. Economy and Trade
2.1. Sumeria
2.1.1. The sumerian culture did not have many woods and metals so they had to trade fur and pelts for there supplies.
2.1.2. Established trade relations with Southwest asia for resources they didn't have
2.2. Shang/Zhou
2.2.1. This civilization was the first to introduce the coin
2.2.2. Used the coin for trading with others in the village due to the fact that other places didn't use the coin.
3. Social Structure and Family life
3.1. Sumeria
3.1.1. Scribes were men and very few upper class women.
3.1.2. The top were kings and priests next were land owners and merchants
3.1.3. At the lower class were farmers artisans and laborers.
3.1.4. At the bottom were slaves
3.2. Shang/Zhou
3.2.1. Largely an agricultural society.
3.2.2. Shang elite had free time and collected pottery
3.2.3. Farmers worked for the army and with slaves to build catacombs.
4. Arts and Education
4.1. Sumeria
4.1.1. Statues with large, wide open eyes also with small objects made out of ivory.
4.1.2. The most famous works of art are cylinder seals, they used these seals to sign documents.
4.2. Shang/Zhou
4.2.1. The elite would collect pottery with their freetime
4.2.2. New farming techniques came with iron
5. Science and Tech
5.1. Sumeria
5.1.1. The Sumerians invented the wheel first it was used for pottery.
5.1.2. They started to make tools and carriages with the wheel that they created.
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. The Shang/Zhou created many new and strong tools.
5.2.2. The shang/Zhou made their tools out of bronze so they are stronger and last longer
6. Government leaders
6.1. Sumeria
6.1.1. The sumerians priest held a higher statues. kings formed dynasties.
6.1.2. the dynistys formed a seires of rules from one family
6.2. Shang/Zhou
6.2.1. unlike other chinese dynasties shang/zhou was less bureaucratic
6.2.2. shang/zhou when he invaded they introduced the idea of mandote of heaven.
7. Religion
7.1. Shang/Zhou
7.1.1. Believed in an afterlife centered on the idea of ancestor worship.
7.1.2. Sought advice through the oracle bones spread into two different religions confucianism and daoism.
7.2. Sumaria
7.2.1. Have a large temple in the middle of the city.
7.2.2. Polytheism of the gods that controlled all forces
7.2.3. Temples where priests and priestesses offered food and drink to god