1. Social Structure and Family
1.1. Sumaria
1.1.1. -Women watched kids and stayed home while men worked and made laws -At the top of social class were kings, priests, and their associates. Then rich landowners and merchants. Next average citizens like farmers. Last were slaves and servants. -Very few women had education and the women that did were normally priestesses
1.2. Shang/Zhou
1.2.1. -The social classes went Emperors first, then scholars, next farmers, after that merchants, and then below then slaves. -Women were seen as inferior and often depicted as not being deserving of trust -
2. Government and Leaders
2.1. Sumaria
2.1.1. In each Sumerian city, they formed their own cite-state, which is a political unit. They had dynasties and formed empires. Sargon was the first ruler. Later, Hammurabi became the new leader after Sargon. He was a brilliant and powerful leader and warrior.
2.2. Shang/Zhou
3. Science and Technology
3.1. Sumaria
3.1.1. They created a math system based around the number 60. They invented geometry. Used the plow. Used bronze to make stronger tools. Built sewers. They had medical knowledge. They also created codes of laws.
3.2. Shang/Zhou
3.2.1. They invented the first system of money. Created canals and transportation. They also made coins.
4. Geography and Agriculture
4.1. Sumaria
4.1.1. They used irrigation to have a more reliable water source. They lived in Mesopotamia, the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Lived near the Fertile Crescent, making it so that they had good, rich soil. They would had floods, so they dug basins to control the flooding.
4.2. Shang/Zhou
4.2.1. They lived near long rivers. Their geography was covered in mountains, deserts, and hills. They had good temperature climates and good fertile soil.
5. Arts and Education
5.1. Sumaria
5.1.1. They developed the first writing system called cuneiform. They wrote poems and stories. Built arches, ramps, columns, and statues. They invented the wheel and used it for pottery.
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. They created a Chinese writing. Built tombs for kings/ rulers. created a calendar. They also invented chopsticks.
6. Economy and Trade
6.1. Sumaria
6.1.1. -Sumerians were experts at trading. -People had jobs like being farmers, fishermen, metal workers, weavers, stone cutters, shepherds, leather workers, and sailors. - Sumeria's economy was based on agriculture. -
6.2. Shang/Zhou
6.2.1. -They circulated almost all goods by gifting. The trading expanded as the dynasty grew. They mainly traded by the rivers.
7. Religion
7.1. Sumeria
7.1.1. Their religion has a temple called 'Ziguret" and they practiced polytheism. They believed that the gods controlled all forces. For example, the god Enlil controlled the air and storms and each god had a city-state to protect. They believed that gods were just like humans because they ate and drank, fell in love and married, but also fought.To also please the gods, kings performed certain ceremonies.
7.2. Shang/Zhou
7.2.1. In the their religion they had Shang tombs which held the remains of hundreds of sacrificed prisoners of war where they were buried with their ruler. They believe that in afterlife, when a ruler still needs their riches and servants and they also centered on the idea of ancestor worship. They would prepare ritual meals with their ancestors in mind and sought advice through the use of oracle bones.