1. Do Now – 11/2 & 11/3
feudalism: (n): system where lords own land and in exchange for military service & loyalty, peasants live and work on that land
Please take out a blank sheet of paper, write your name at the top, the date, and the words “Do Now” – then answer this question:
What happens to a society when the central government starts to fall or simply become less powerful?
HW: Complete Bushido Code Analysis
STUDY - Test on China/Mongols/Japan – Friday!
Do Now (5 min)
Opening Discussion (10 min)
Feudalism Simulation (20 min)
Simulation Debrief (10 min)
Wrap-up/Exit Ticket (15 min)
Housekeeping & First Advisory Reflection (15 min)

2. Our Goals
Objective
Essential Questions
SWBAT Simulate the development of feudalism in Japan in order to assess the success of the political & social system of feudalism
What is feudalism?
What make this political and social system effective & ineffective?

3. Opening Discussion
What happens to a society when the central government starts to fall or simply become less powerful?
What was Japan’s political system like? What was their social system like?

4. Feudalism Simulation
Peasants: Constant threat of violence & instability in rural countryside, no stable living, farmers and
Ronin: wandering peasants
Daimyos: land-owning lords
Samurais: warriors; [needed by daimyo’s]
Shoguns: powerful families or military leaders

5. Peasants (seated on the floor)
Feudalism Simulation
Emperor
Shogun
Estate #1
Estate #4
Peasants (seated on the floor)
SAMURAIS
Estate #2
Estate #3

6. Feudalism Simulation
Peasants – you need to eat! Keep “farming” by writing rice on your plot of land (white sheet of paper)
Daimyo – You need to own land to live on and profit from. Convince some peasants to sell you their land! Watch out for other Daimyo’s, who may want to take it from you – how do you protect it?
Samurai – Your services are for sale – you are trained warriors who keep people safe.
Shoguns – manage what is going on in this structure and settle any disputes that may occur. These are your samurais!
Emperor – Sit pretty 

7. Simulation Debrief Who owns land in this system?
Which group(s) in this feudal system is/are the least powerful and why? (peasants, samurais, daimyos, and eventually, shogun)
Which group(s) in this feudal system is/are the most powerful and why? (peasants, samurais, daimyos, and eventually, shogun)
Why did feudalism emerge at this time in Japan’s history?
Predict: what do you think is will be the next phase of Japan’s political development?

8. Exit Ticket
Create a thesis statement: Is this system effective or ineffective? Follow this model:
Although feudalism was (effective/ineffective) because ________, it was (effective/ineffective) because ___________.
HW: Complete Bushido Code Analysis
STUDY - Test on China/Mongols/Japan – Friday!