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THE SONG DYNASTY IN CHINA AND MESOPOTAMIA BUILT ENVIRONMENTS. The song dynasty (pg340) created very successful trade networks between large cities, facilitated by the use of paper money and wood-block printing that enabled mercantile economy to bloom. The cultivation of tea and cotton became widespread. Gun powder was used for the first time and canals were dug. Traditions came to be closely aligned but it was confucianism that reemerged as a major ideological force. Temples and monasteries were everywhere and new concept of cultural entertainment in the area of Wazi became popular especially with creation of night markets. Confucianism was a religious belief and political philosophy. It’s technology was advanced in agriculture, iron working and printing. Even though it was developed, it was not able to dominate it’s neighbors militarily. Central to it’s engagements with the outside world was to maintain peace with it’s powerful northern neighbors and extend it’s trading networks. There were also government agencies and schools for construction, building, and engineering. The Song dynasty's building manuals aided not only the various private workshops, but also the craftsmen employed by the central government. Mesopotamia (pg15) was more dependent on trading which was majorly long distance trading. They had organized trading systems which included exporting grains, cooking oil, pottery, leather goods, baskets, textiles and importing Egyptian gold, Indian ivory and pearls. Religion was central to Mesopotamia as they believed the divine affected human life. They were polytheistic and worshipped major gods and thousands of minor Gods. Priests were the initial rulers as all authority came from the gods. They were able to protect themselves from heavy foreign influence and invasion. They had very strong armies and military officers that were able to protect the city from invasion by enemies. Evidence shows extensive use of technology, literature, legal codes, philosophy, religion, and architecture in these city. Among the Mesopotamian architectural accomplishments are the development of urban planning, the courtyard houses, and and ziggurats No architectural profession existed in Mesopotamia; however, scribes drafted and managed construction for the government, nobility, or royalty. These two cities are related in such a way that both of them took part in trade and they had well organized trade systems which enabled them to develop their economy. As we clearly see that song dynasty used paper money and there technology was also advanced. Both of these cities are religious because sons dynasty had confucianism religion while mesopotamia has polytheistic religion. The worshipped several gods and valued religion.These two cities are also related in terms of advanced technology and also advancement in agriculture as they grew different crops. Song majorly grew tea and cotton and mesopotamia grew grains. They both stated near the river therefore had early writing. Both civilizations made great inventions. And both civilizations flourished for a long time. Both cities build irrigation canals to bring water to their crops. These two cities needed the canals because both of them depended heavily on farming for food and survival. Roads were built in both cities to help in transportation of agricultural products from farms to stores and also from farms to respective markets. Both civilizations also built monumental structures to help in history tracing and marking. The Chinese civilization developed near certain landforms. They were greatly impacted by the geography. China developed while being surrounded by natural borders. They were protected by the Gobi Desert and Taklimakan Desert from the west. The Egyptians were also protected by deserts. The Pacific Ocean protected China from the east and the Himalayan Mountains protected them from the south. Archaeologists have inferred that the ancient Chinese did not want to have interactions between other civilizations. Both had many advancements which are used today in present times which help to maximize produce in agriculture which was very essential in trading. The advancement of technology was also very important as it led to new methods of farming and also development of infrastructure. Politically, both Egypt and Mesopotamia had a government with one main ruler, but Egypt had a centralized government with a pharaoh, while Mesopotamia had a decentralized government with a king. Socially, both civilizations were patriarchal, but Egypt was more lenient towards women while Mesopotamia was stricter. They both conquered many lands and we’re very powerful because they had strong armies and they capture more lands designated for agriculture. Based on construction houses were both cube shaped and build with mad clay blocks. The economy was based on agriculture and farming and farmers made up major population. Another distinct characteristic is that only one woman ruled in both civilizations.