JAPAN
From Feudal Era to 20th Century
GEOGRPAHY OF JAPAN
Isolated group of
islands off the
coast of China
Isolated country
who eventually
shifts towards
Imperialism
How would
geography of
Japan cause them
to become
imperialistic?
ANCIENT JAPAN
Collapse of government
Japan feared potential
invasion from Mongols
and Chinese
Adopted Chinese
culture – including
Confucianism and
Buddhism
Japanese Emperor
Samurai – “those who
serve” protected
individual families and
their land
Why would families
need Samurai’s?
SAMURAI
MEDIEVAL WARRIORS
European Knight
Japanese Warrior
SAMURAI “BUSHIDO CODE”
Wisdom
Courage
Benevolence
Respect
Honesty
Honor
Loyalty
“The Way of the
Warrior – strict
warrior code that
required service
unto death.
Seppuku: Samurai Ritual Suicide
Samurai honor code:
Die with HONOR
Consisted of slicing
belly open with sword
Only done with
permission
Done if master dies,
enemy captures him, or
committed serious
offense
Decapitated after the
ritual suicide
MINAMOTO YORITOMO
Japanese families in
constant civil war by
1200
Minamoto Yoritomo
became powerful
noble
Wanted to re-create
a centralized gov’t
under the control of
a powerful military
leader (SHOGUN)
Emperor remained
figurehead, shogun
exercised power
FEUDAL JAPANESE SOCIETY
MONGOL INVASION (1281)
Kublai Khan sent
over 4,000 ships and
150,000 men to
invade Japan
A typhoon (Pacific
Ocean hurricane)
destroyed the
majority of Mongol
ships and spared
Japan
No foreign invasion
until 1945 by
America
CASTLES
EUROPE
JAPAN
END OF SHOGUN RULE
Centralized gov’t
controlled by shogun
collapses in 15th and
16th century
Daimyos – “Great
Names” control
Japan
Process of unification
begins again
Oda Nobunaga
credited with ending
shogun rule
Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582)
What do
the
different
colors and
lines
represent?
A: different
daimyos
that
controlled
areas of
Japan
Japanese Contact with Europe
Portuguese land on Japan in
1543
Initially – Japan welcomes in
buying European weapons
and technology (glasses,
clocks, and tobacco)
Christianity spreads rapidly
through Japan
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
(daimyo) orders expulsion
and/or execution of
missionaries
Japan becomes suspicious of
Europe conquering territory
Japan further isolates
themselves from Western
World
HOWEVER that will soon Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598)
change!!!!!