1. Geography and Agriculture
1.1. Sumerians
1.1.1. Southern Mesopatamia swampy region
1.1.2. Tigris and Euphrates river
1.1.3. Little rain
1.1.4. Rich fertile soil
1.1.5. River civilization of the summarians
1.2. Shang/Zhou
1.2.1. Agricultural Society
1.2.2. Occasionally farmers fought in army
1.2.3. Zhou Dynasty took over Shang Dynasty in 1100 B.C
1.2.4. Most people spend their time in the fields
1.3. Map of River Civilization of the Hhang and Zhou Dynasty
2. Religion
2.1. Sumerians
2.1.1. Polytheism - worship of many gods
2.1.2. God protected city/state
2.1.3. Built ziggurats and temples
2.1.4. Offered gods food and drink
2.1.5. Held ceremonies
2.1.6. Example of a ziggurat
2.2. Shang/Zhou
2.2.1. Believed in afterlife
2.2.2. Ancestor worship
2.2.3. Offered gifts to deceased ancestors
2.2.4. Oracle bones- inscribed animal bone or turtle shell
2.2.5. Inscribed turtle shell created from the Shang and Zhou Dynasty
3. Economy and Trade
3.1. Sumerians
3.1.1. Lacked raw materials
3.1.2. Trade enriched social hierarchy
3.1.3. Woven textiles for metals, timber, and stone
3.1.4. Men had more rights than women
3.2. Shang/Zhou
3.2.1. Iron was the backbone for economy
3.2.2. Introduced coins to china
3.2.3. Shang may have been the first to create a money system
3.2.4. Main income came from harvests of crops
4. Arts and Education
4.1. Sumerians
4.1.1. Sumerian writing is cuneiform
4.1.2. Learned geometry to build
4.1.3. Arches, ramps, columns in architecture
4.1.4. Sculptures had large, wide-open eyes
4.1.5. Example of cuneiform
4.2. Shang/Zhou
4.2.1. Zhou dynasty started the use of chopsticks
4.2.2. Best known for bronze items
4.2.3. Created the Chinese writing
4.2.4. Created very decorative bronze vessels
4.3. Example of art from Shang and Zhou Dynasty
5. Science and Technology
5.1. Sumerians
5.1.1. Invented the wheel
5.1.2. Invented plow
5.1.3. Performed basic surgery
5.1.4. Learned to use bronze
5.1.5. Example of the Sumerian wheel
5.2. Shang/Zhou
5.2.1. Use of iron tools
5.2.2. Amelioration/Plowing methods
5.2.3. Healing methods acupuncture and moxibustion
5.2.4. Bronze Technology
5.2.5. Example of Iron tools
6. Government and Leaders
6.1. Sumerians
6.1.1. Akkadian ruler Sargon I in 2330 BC
6.1.2. 1792 Amorite King Hammurabi became king of Babylon
6.1.3. War Chiefs began to rule as kings
6.1.4. Kings formed dynasty's
6.2. Shang/Zhou
6.2.1. Mandate of Heaven (Zhou)
6.2.2. Rituals to strengthen and keep the kingdom safe
6.2.3. Governors that ruled sections of the kingdom
6.2.4. Large army to prevent rebellion
7. Social Structure and Family Life
7.1. Sumerians
7.1.1. Men held political power, women took care of home and kids
7.1.2. Few upper class women received education
7.1.3. Women were priestesses in temples
7.1.4. Social Heirarchy
7.2. Shang/Zhou
7.2.1. Wealthy hunted for sport with ruling elite
7.2.2. Farmers would have to work with slaves on building projects
7.2.3. Kings were surrounded by wealthy nobles
7.2.4. Wealthy collected bronze and jade for fun