1. Social Structure and Family Life
1.1. Shang Zhou
1.1.1. Aristocracy's were the most respected and were responsable for governing the smaller areas of the dynasty.
1.1.2. The Shang middle class were craftsman and artisian
1.1.3. The lowest class in the Shang society were the peasants
1.1.4. Some people believe that the peasants functioned as slaves
1.2. Sumerians
1.2.1. There are 4 social classes; Priests, Upper class, Lower class, and Slaves
1.2.2. Children were expected to respect and obey their parents.
1.2.3. They placed great importance on their families
1.2.4. The man was the head of the family and could have more than one wife
2. Religion
2.1. Shang Zhou
2.1.1. Religion during the Shang dynasty was polytheistic, which means people worshiped many gods.
2.1.2. The final king Shang Chou, was a cruel man known for his methods of torture.
2.1.3. It was believed that the success of crops and heath was based on the happiness of dead ancestors.
2.1.4. The god worshiped by the Shang was Shang Ti the "god on high."
2.2. Sumerians
2.2.1. A polytheistic religion with anthropomorphic deities
2.2.2. Temple Complexes were small elevated 1 room apartments
2.2.3. Deities represented Cosmic and Terrestrial forces
2.2.4. Temples later developed raised terraces and multiple rooms
3. Arts and Education
3.1. Sumerians
3.1.1. The Sumerian writing system during the early period was in flux. The original direction of writing was from top to bottom, but for reasons unknown, it changed to left-to-right
3.1.2. Sumerian education usually took place in a temple with a priest
3.1.3. Sumerians established forms of pottery and weaving
3.1.4. Student learned by copying lessons down on a stone tablet
3.2. Shang Zhou
3.2.1. The Shang Zhou were skilled in the art of crafting bone, jade, stone, wood, shells, and bronze.
3.2.2. Conficius devoted his life to a private school system
3.2.3. The school divided the student into lower and upper groups
3.2.4. The earliest bronzes were made by a method known as piece-mold casting
4. Science and Technology
4.1. Shang Zou
4.1.1. Used copper tin to make most tools and materials
4.1.2. It fashioned weapons, Chariots, and ritual vessles
4.1.3. Bronze was made by piece mold casting
4.1.4. Used to use the lost wax method
4.2. Sumerians
4.2.1. Domestication of animals
4.2.2. They used irrigation to create food surplus
4.2.3. Creation of time and numbers
4.2.4. Led to creation of 360 degree wheel
5. Governments and Leaders
5.1. Sumerians
5.1.1. The first recorded ruler of the Sumerians on the Kings list, is the king by the name of Etana of Kish.
5.1.2. Ethana of Kish was known for his heroism and bravery and was probably made king for this reason.
5.1.3. The long list Sumerian Kings is written by a scribe or a person that job is to copy documents from the city of Lagash, sometime around 2100 BC.
5.1.4. King Utu-Hegal a ruler around 2100 BC it is thought to try to link himself to previous heroic kings through the creation of their King List.
5.2. Shang Zhou
5.2.1. King Wen, who is known for being wise became the king of Shang Zhou in 1099 BC during the final days of the Shang Dynasty.
6. Economy and Trade
6.1. Sumerians
6.1.1. Common Jobs in 2100 BC where Craftsmen, metal-smiths, potters, spinners, weavers and carpenters where all employees of the temple.
6.1.2. Traders where also a common around the temple. Long-distance trade caravans were organized and supplied by the temple, and the traders were temple servants.
6.1.3. In Ancient Mesopotamian times, temples and palaces retained huge economic influence and the was one in sumer.
6.1.4. As more time passed, The king granted more land and wealth to his officials and supporters, and so they created a private market for goods and services separate from either king or temple.
6.2. Shang Zhou
6.2.1. It was during the Shang Zhou dynasty that the bronze age kicked off. The Shang most commonly use bronze pitchers for drinking in ritual ceremonies.
6.2.2. 90% of peasants lived on farms
6.2.3. Bronze wares reached a high level of artistry
6.2.4. Most important material of trade was silk
7. Geography and Argiculture
7.1. Sumerians
7.1.1. Located in mesomatania, fertile cresant
7.1.2. The farmers used threshing wagons to separate the cereal heads from the stalks
7.1.3. Tigris and Euphrates rivers shaped the civilization
7.1.4. The very fertile soil allowed them to grow many different plants
7.2. Shang Zhou
7.2.1. The core of the dynasty ran of the yellow river and the yanatze river
7.2.2. Agriculture was very intense and was directed by the government
7.2.3. Large scale irrigation and water control increased the crop yield
7.2.4. Improved through the road construction and canals