1. Social structure and family
1.1. Shang/Zhou
1.1.1. Social structure had Monarch,Warrior/nobles,and peasant/Laborers
1.1.2. Clan system of extended Family existed Strongest Clan became Ruling class
1.1.3. Women were inferior only purpose to give birth to male children
1.1.4. Ruled with a Confucian social hierarchy.
1.2. Sumerian
1.2.1. Social hierarchy of nobles, commoners, clients, and slaves
1.2.2. People could repay debts by becoming a slave for a certain amount of time
1.2.3. Men were the head of families
1.2.4. Children obeyed and respected their parents
2. Government and leaders
2.1. Shang/Zhou
2.1.1. Zhou Rulers claimed to be sons of Gods.
2.1.2. The Huang He River was essential for their centralized government.
2.1.3. The ruling Emperors were above all and used tactics to make their citizens scared of them for respect.
2.1.4. Ruled the Yellow River for around 500 plus years.
2.2. Sumerrian
2.2.1. A combination of monarchy and democracy was used to rule.
2.2.2. Each city and state was ruled by a king.
2.2.3. Priests, Scribes and Nobles helped kings.
2.2.4. Before 3500 BC priests ruled cities and states.
3. Art and Education
3.1. Shang/Zhou
3.1.1. Shang/Zhou dynasty was the bronze age,Did bronze casting and jadde carving
3.1.2. At the end of this era iron working began which strengthened their army
3.1.3. Education was originally oral history but formal schools began for the Shang/Zhou dynasty 1600 BC to 1046 BC
3.1.4. Tombs were decorated elaborately for the wealthy.
3.2. Sumerian
3.2.1. First known civilization with organized schools
3.2.2. Scribes or priests taught students how to write
3.2.3. Made sculptures out of clay, and had a round soft look
3.2.4. Families had cylindrical seals that were used as a families signiture
4. Science
4.1. Sumerian
4.1.1. Started the first base-60 number system, which later formed seconds and minutes
4.1.2. Developed a lunar 12-month calendar
4.1.3. May have discovered Pi
4.1.4. Mapped star constellations
4.2. Shang/Zhou
4.2.1. Earliest writing in China was found on Oxen
4.2.2. Had iron weapons and war chariots
4.2.3. Gathered silk from silkworms
4.2.4. Had more advanced metals and tools
5. Economy and trade
5.1. Sumerian
5.1.1. Developed weaving, leather work, metal work, masonry, and pottry
5.1.2. Traded heavily in Persian Gulf
5.1.3. Economy based on Agriculture
5.1.4. Traded different types of jewelry
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. They used copper coins as currency.
5.2.2. Their economy was based off of agriculture.
5.2.3. The Shang kingdom was the first in China to levy taxes.
5.2.4. They traded items made by artisans such as carved jade and marble.
6. Religion
6.1. Shang/Zhou
6.1.1. Dualism was a belief that everything relates to everything else and best works when balanced.
6.1.2. Folk religion for Shang was polytheistic.
6.1.3. Each child "receives" life from parent, child should worship parent.
6.1.4. Oracle bones were used for religious papers.
6.2. Sumerian
6.2.1. No organized set of gods
6.2.2. City-states had their own patrons and priest-kings
6.2.3. Believed the universe was formed through "cosmic births"
6.2.4. First to have a written set of beliefs, which inspired later religions
7. Geography and Agriculture
7.1. Zhou/Shang
7.1.1. The Chang Jiang and the Yangzi River supplied water to Shang/Zhou Dynasties
7.1.2. Annual floods provided rich soil to the river valley also deserts winds carried fine dusty soil
7.1.3. China's geographic isolation allowed early civilazaions to grow mountains,hills and deserts surround them
7.1.4. Chang Jiang area had warmer temps and high rainfall made it good for rice North on the Huang He,cooler,drier conditions were better for wheat and millet
7.2. Sumerian
7.2.1. Land was flat and marshy
7.2.2. Ruled in the fertile crescent
7.2.3. Had advanced irrigation using the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
7.2.4. Used plows and plow seeders