MEDIEVAL JAPAN

GEOGRAPHY

• Japan consists of thousands of islands,the four largest islands are honshu,hokkaido,kyushu, and shikoku
• Because Japan is in a region where continental plates meet they experience alot of earthquakes

SOCIAL HIERARCY

• Emperor
• Shogun
• Daimyo
• Samurai
• Peasants
• Artisans
• Merchants

SHOGUN

• The shogun was the military top commander
• Had more power than the emperor
• Hired Daimyo for their warriors or samurai

SAMURAI

• The samurai rose to power in the 12th century
• They were servants of their Daimyos or great lords
• The samurai dominated Japanese government until around 1868
• The samurai fighting style was called Kenjutsu which is the way of the sword
• The samurai code of honor was called Bushido which meant that every samurai had to have loyalty,courage,veracity,compassion,and honor
• Seppuku was the samurai's ceremonial suicide which is performed when the samurai commits an act of disgrace
• The samurai used swords in battle
• Miyamoto Musashi was the most famous samurai in history

RELIGION

• In the 13th century Zen Buddhism spread across the samurai's and they believed that they got their power from the budda

GOVERNMENT

• The japenese government was feudal
• It was a fight for land,wealth,and power