1. Arts & Education
1.1. Shang/Zhou
1.1.1. Shang created decorative bronze vessels
1.1.2. Early texts used picture symbols to represent ideas or objects
1.2. Sumerians
1.2.1. Architectures used arches, columns, and ramps.
1.2.2. Some sculptures were large eyed and some were craved out of Ivory
2. Religion
2.1. Sumeria
2.1.1. Practiced polytheism, or the belief in many gods
2.1.2. Believed that a god protected each city-state
2.1.3. Worked hard to please the gods, as they thought that they could cause life-altering events
2.1.4. Built ziggurats and temples for their gods
2.2. Shang/Zhou
2.2.1. Believed in an afterlife
2.2.2. Centered on ancestor worship
2.2.3. Asked ancestors for advice using oracle bones, which were inscribed animal bones or turtle shell
2.2.4. Prepared religious feats to keep their ancestors happy
3. Economy & Trade
3.1. Sumerians
3.1.1. Used a Barter system
3.1.2. Traded for textiles, timber, stones and metal.
3.2. Shang/Zhou
3.2.1. Self sustained communities
3.2.2. Had innovated ways of harvesting crops, which produced a surplus of food.
4. Social Structure and Family Life
4.1. Sumerians
4.1.1. Women were respected
4.1.2. Children contributed to income as soon as able to
4.1.3. Elite group
4.1.3.1. Kings, officials, priests, soilders
4.1.4. Daughters were equal to sons
4.2. Shang/Zhou
4.2.1. Social pyramid
4.2.1.1. King on top
4.2.1.2. military, priests, merchants, and farmers below king
4.2.2. Arranged marriages
5. Science & Technology
5.1. Sumerian
5.1.1. Invented the wheel
5.1.2. Developed an open number system based on the number 60
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. Astronomers created precise calenders based on the moon cycle
5.2.2. Built huge stable, structures
6. Geography & Agriculture
6.1. Sumerians
6.1.1. Dry between the rivers
6.1.1.1. too dry to grow crops
6.1.1.2. good for herding goats and sheep
6.1.2. fertile land near rivers
6.2. Shang/Zhou
6.2.1. ruled in the Yellow River valley
7. Government and Leaders
7.1. Sumeria
7.1.1. Priests held a high place in Sumerian government due to importance of religion in their culture.
7.1.2. War chiefs began to rule as turmoil between city-states ruled.
7.1.3. Kings formed dynasties.
7.1.4. Kings performed ceremonies to please gods.
7.2. Shang/Zhou
7.2.1. Shang ruled by a strong monarchy
7.2.2. The king appointed governors for control over the distant parts of China
7.2.3. The Zhou introduced the Mandate by Heaven.
7.2.4. They believed that dynasties were overthrown because the gods were not in favor of it.