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Mesopotamian China And Sumerian Similarities

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Sumer was the first urban civilization of southern Mesopotamia, while the Shang dynasty was the earliest dynasty of Chinese history. Both of these ancient civilizations were made up of city-states ruled by priest-kings, though the way they were governed differed greatly. Their social hierarchies resembled each other, with some slight differences and variations of the classes. The Sumerians laid a foundation for technology with inventions such as agriculture and time, while the Chinese followed up, facilitating life and improving warfare. By about 4000 BCE, the peoples of Sumer organized themselves into several independent city-states. Each of these city-states surrounded a ziggurat dedicated to that particular city’s patron god and were ruled …show more content…

The fertile land and its easy access to water from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers was what made it possible for agriculture to emerge. It then spread to other regions, enabling humans to settle in one place. The Sumerians also developed irrigation in order to regulate the flow of the water and to irrigate crops, making farming an easier task. The Sumerians developed the concept of time, with 60-second minutes, 60-minute hours and 24-hour days. The first form of writing was developed by the Sumerians, called cuneiform. It was used in trade, to keep track of the merchandise and debts. Mesopotamia’s technological innovations were the basis for the progression of technology. The Shang dynasty improved their bronze technology. Mass production of bronze items boomed during that time. The incorporation of bronze weapons and armor gave the Shang a great military advantage. They invented the yoke, harness, and spoked wheel. These inventions facilitated agriculture and transport. The Chinese also created a refined writing system with over 2000 symbols. Both Sumer and Shang China contributed to the development of today’s mathematics. The Sumerians first came up with the concept, needing an accurate system to keep count of the goods being traded, while the Chinese developed the decimal system. They also contributed to the way of life we have today. The Chinese created a 12 month calendar with 365 and 1/4 days, based on the

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