1. Geography and Agriculture
1.1. Sumerian
1.1.1. Flat swampy regions were well suited for argiculture
1.1.2. Tigris and Euphrates rivers often flooded in spring
1.1.3. Floods left fertile soil called silt
1.1.4. Mesopotamid was the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
1.2. Shang/Zhou
1.2.1. Was largely agriculteral
1.2.2. Two major rivers supplied water, Chang Jiang and the Huang He
1.2.3. Annual floods deposited rich soil
1.2.4. Areas in Southern China were good for growing rice
2. Religion
2.1. Sumerian
2.1.1. Practiced Polytheism, worship of many gods
2.1.2. Believed that gods controlled all natural forees
2.1.3. Worked hard to please the gods
2.1.4. Priests held a high status
2.2. Shang/Zhou
2.2.1. Tombs contained valuable jewels such as bronze and jade
2.2.2. Sacrificed prisoners to serve the king in the afterlife
2.2.3. They worshiped their ancestors
2.2.4. Used oracle bones to "communicate" with their ancestors
3. Social Structure and Family Life
3.1. Sumerian
3.1.1. Husband/father had all the power
3.1.2. Highest class- government officials, the king, landowners, and wealthy traders
3.1.3. Middle class- farmers, potters, and artists
3.1.4. Lower class- slaves, lads, and people without land
3.2. Shang/Zhou
3.2.1. Worshiped ancestors
3.2.2. Unique social hierarchy
3.2.3. Citizens had to follow rules and values of confucianism
3.2.4. Spoke on central language
4. Economy and Trade
4.1. Sumerian
4.1.1. Jobs included farmers, metal smiths, shepherds and weavers
4.1.2. Economy was based on agriculture
4.1.3. Sumerians used slaves, but were only a minor factor of the economy
4.1.4. Iron smelted around 2500 BC
4.2. Shang/Zhou
4.2.1. Great importance in agriculture
4.2.2. Crafts made in large varieties and sold for coins
4.2.3. Woven silk was a major trade item
4.2.4. Trading appeared late with he Shang dynasty due to most crafts dedicated to their ancestors
5. Arts and Education
5.1. Sumerian
5.1.1. Ruins and artifacts provide information of the artistry and creativity
5.1.2. Sculptures carved out of ivory
5.1.3. Most famous work of art- the cylinder seals
5.1.4. Writing was called Cuneiform
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. Chinese writing was closely tide to the use of oracle bones
5.2.2. Used pictures and symbols to represent objects and ideas
5.2.3. Worked with bronze
5.2.4. Created a precise calender based on cycles of the moon
6. Government and Leaders
6.1. Sumerian
6.1.1. Priests governed the city states
6.1.2. War chiefs began to rule as kings
6.1.3. priest-kings received advice from a General Assembly made up of free (elected) men
6.1.4. One of the most famous priest-kings was Gilgamesh of Uruk
6.2. Shang/Zhou
6.2.1. King appointed governors to rule distant ports of the kingdom
6.2.2. Introduced the idea of being ruled by the mandate of heaven
6.2.3. Kings surrounded by a court
6.2.4. Large army
7. Science and Technology
7.1. Sumerian
7.1.1. Used irrigation systems
7.1.2. Invented the wheel
7.1.3. Performed basic surgery
7.1.4. Had a lot of knowledge of medicine
7.2. Shang/Zhou
7.2.1. Oracle scripts contained records of lunar eclipses
7.2.2. Great advancement in astronomy
7.2.3. Calender system advanced
7.2.4. Developed odd & even numbers