Today: Notes on Japanese Feudalism Friday: Review for test Monday: NO SCHOOL Tuesday: Middle Ages Test

 Japan lies about 500 miles east of China  Southern Japan has mild climate and plenty of rainfall, but mountainous, only 12% farmable  Late summer brings tropical storms called typhoons.  Earthquakes and tidal waves a threat.  Natural Resources: ◦ Coal, oil and iron in short supply

 Clans controlled territories  Worshiped local gods, later called this religion Shinto “way of the gods” ◦ Forces of nature and ancestors  By C.E. 400’s, Yamato clan led  Victorious rival clans would claim control over emperor, rule in his name  Buddhism brought by Koreans  Chinese culture influenced Japan

 C.E. capital moved from Nara  Etiquette important  Rules dictated high society court life  Women wrote essays and novels  The Tale of Genji (story about a prince) by Lady Murasaki Shikibu is considered world’s first novel.

 Fujiwara family help power in Japan in 1000’s C.E.  Large landowners set up private armies ◦ Countryside and sea became dangerous  Small landowners traded parts of their land to strong warlords in exchange for protection  Samurai: Rival lords hired bodyguards  Bushido: code of behavior for samurai ◦ Courage, reverence for gods, fairness and protect weak

 Late 1100’s C.E. two most powerful clans fought 30 years for power  Emperor gave victorious Minamoto leader, Yoritomo the title of ‘shogun’-supreme general of emperor’s army  Shoguns ruled through puppet emperors  This form of government lasted until 1868

 Draw a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting Knights and Samurai  See page 342 in textbook  When finished pick up Middle Ages Test Study Guide and begin KnightsSamarai