1. Social Structure and Family life
1.1. Sumeria
1.1.1. At the top of the social structure were kings, priests, and their principal agents
1.1.2. Men help political power and made laws while women took care of the home and the children
1.2. Shang/Zhou
1.2.1. Largely an agricultural society
1.2.2. The Shang ruling elite had free time to spend in pursuit of leisure activities
2. Economy and Trade
2.1. Sumeria
2.1.1. Obtained many of their materials for ther buildings through trade
2.1.2. Sumerians lacked many resources such as wood and metals, so they traded across Southwest Asia and beyond
2.2. Shang/Zhou
2.2.1. Iron became the backbone of their economy when Zhou took over
2.2.2. Zhou introduced coins and chopsticks to china
3. Religion
3.1. Sumeria
3.1.1. Sumerians practiced polytheism
3.1.2. sumerians believed that a god protected each city-state because of these beliefs sumerians worked hard to please the gods
3.2. Shang/Zhou
3.2.1. Shang Zhou religion was Confucianism
3.2.2. Religion had a huge impact on government and society in everyday life
4. Geography and Agriculture
4.1. Sumeria
4.1.1. ln the area between Tigris and Euphrates rivers called Mesopotamia
4.1.2. A very fertile region that Sumerians based on for its excellent farming
4.2. Shang/Zhou
4.2.1. Southern China near the Huang He and Yangzi Rivers provided the best fertility
4.2.2. The rivers served also as a water source and many irrigation systems were used
5. Science and Technology
5.1. Sumeria
5.1.1. The sumerians learned to use geometry which was necessary to build elaborate structures and irrigation system .
5.1.2. The sumerians invented the wheel which they used for pottery and a variety of vehicles. They also built the plow and learned how to use bronze to make stronger tools and weapons
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. Before the Zhou dynasty china was done almost exclusively in bronze .The zhou learned how to use iron which became the backbone of their economy .
5.2.2. created the catapult which was the army's first cavalry
6. Government and Leaders
6.1. Sumeria
6.1.1. priests held a high status in sumer and initially governed city-states
6.1.2. As city-states started to battle for dominance the war chiefs began to rule as kings
6.2. Shang/Zhou
6.2.1. During the shang period,china was ruled by a strong monarchy.
6.2.2. to keep order in the kingdom the king ordered certain governors to rule distant parts of the kingdom.
7. Art and Education
7.1. Sumeria
7.1.1. Sumerian writing is called cuneiform
7.1.2. Developed a math system based on the number 60
7.2. Shang/Zhou
7.2.1. Chinese writing was closely tied to the use of oracle bones
7.2.2. Artists created bronze vessels and statues that were often used in rituals