1. Geography and Agriculture
1.1. Shang
1.1.1. The two rivers that where around were the Chang Jiang or also called the Yangzi and the Huang He or also called the yellow river
1.1.2. Annual floods would happen along the rivers
1.1.3. The Chang Jiang river climate would be warmer and received great rainfall, the climate would be great for farming rice
1.1.3.1. Map of Shang civilization.
1.1.3.1.1. Between the two rivers was the land called Mesopotamia, which was home to the sumerians
1.1.4. The Hung He river climate tended to be a cooler and drier climate which was more suitable for wheat and millet.
1.2. Sumerians
1.2.1. The two rivers that were by the sumerians were the Tigris river and the Euphrates river.
1.2.1.1. Map of Sumerian civilization.
1.2.2. Between the two rivers was the land called Mesopotamia, which was home to the sumerians
1.2.3. The two rivers flooded in the spring time, but mainly the sumerians would rely on rainfall and snowmelt to get through.
1.2.4. Since the rivers were not super reliable, they learned to dig and flood tunnels for water flow to different areas.
2. Science and Technology
2.1. Shang
2.1.1. Catapults were invented for defense.
2.1.1.1. Technology from the Shang civilization
2.1.2. The building of roads lead to better transportation and communication.
2.1.3. Coins were introduced to the society.
2.1.4. They began to use chopsticks.
2.2. Sumerians
2.2.1. They invented the wheel
2.2.1.1. Technology from the Sumerian civilization
2.2.2. They made pottery and created vehicles.
2.2.3. Bronze was used for weapons and tools.
2.2.4. An abundance of medical knowledge came from this.
3. Social structure and Family life
3.1. Shang
3.1.1. Kings were the hierarchy of the civilization
3.1.2. The king had a court of wealthy noble men
3.1.3. The king chose governors the rule distant parts of his land
3.1.4. The slaves were workers who created buildings and temples, sometimes farmers were asked to help work with them
3.2. Sumerians
3.2.1. Sumerian kings created dynasties.
3.2.2. Scribes were moved up in class levels.
3.2.3. Men held political power while women stayed home with the children.
3.2.4. Slaves were in the lowest class possible.
4. Government and Leaders
4.1. Shang
4.1.1. They were ruled by a strong monarchy.
4.1.2. shang kings were surronded by a court or gathering of wealthy nobles.
4.1.3. Governors were appointed to rule distant parts of the kingdom.
4.2. Sumerians
4.2.1. People were assigned jobs.
4.2.2. War chiefs became to rule as kings.
4.2.3. They wrote laws.
4.2.4. Priests held the second highest class.
5. Religion
5.1. Shang
5.1.1. They believed that in the after life the ruler would still need riches and buried them with many jewels
5.1.1.1. Religious artifact.
5.1.2. the Shang had centered there worship around there ancestors
5.1.3. They offered there ancestors gifts for a happy and fulfilled afterlife
5.1.4. Families would prepare ritual foods with there ancestors in mind, believing that while they ate the food the ancestors would be nourished with the steam
5.2. Sumerians
5.2.1. They practiced polytheism. (the worship of many gods)
5.2.2. They believed gods controlled all natural forces.
5.2.3. A god protected each city/state.
5.2.4. They believed gods were similar to humans.
5.2.4.1. Relgious artifact
6. Arts and Education
6.1. Shang
6.1.1. A few of the more expensive objects would be the bronze and Jade jewelry that nobles would wear.
6.1.1.1. Art from the Shang civilization
6.1.2. The Shangs writing would be picture symbols that would represent objects or ideas
6.1.3. They made great improvements with bronze creating intricate and highly decorated vessels and objects
6.1.4. They also created a precise calendar revolving around the moon cycles
6.2. Sumerians
6.2.1. They created a writing system called cuneiform, they used this to create poems and stories.
6.2.2. People who wanted to become scribes had to take lots of classes to learn the practice of cuneiform.
6.2.3. In addition to the homes that were built, they created large temple like structures in there home and around the public area
6.2.4. They had also created a math system which lead to advances in society
6.2.4.1. Art from the Sumerian civilization
7. Economy and Trade
7.1. Shang
7.1.1. Coins helped create a new trade system.
7.1.2. People would create things out of bronze and iron to sell.
7.1.3. Many elites liked to collect bronze and jade jewelry.
7.1.4. One of the main things that was traded was food.
7.2. Sumerians
7.2.1. They traded things for raw materials.
7.2.2. They enriched a social hierarchy.
7.2.3. Scribes were well payed for their work.
7.2.4. they used cuneiform for business accounts and records.