Big Ideas

Land of The Rising Sun

Japan is a mountainous island nation off the coast of Asia.

Volcanoes and earthquakes are key features of the region.

o Mountains and volcanoes covered the chain of Japan

Contact with other countries had a strong influence on

Japanese civilizations

o Korea and China were Japans neighbors

The Ages of Emperors

The first rulers of Japan emerged through struggles between local

clans

o Clans were battling during the early ages of Japan

Prince Shotoku brought reform to Japan and helped to unify

the nation

o Prince Shotoku was a regent which means he was too young

to rule. He was the first to talk about unifying Japan

The Development of Feudalism

Japan had two different capitals in the 700s. Buddhist influence

was an important factor in this period

o Buddhism spread throughout Japan, which had a great

impact

The emperor's power faded, and powerful clans gained

control over Japan.
 o After the emperor lost power, the clans took over and
became corrupt

Japan became a feudal society under the shoguns

o Japan had a new social order under the shoguns

Japan Under The Shoguns

Samurai warriors followed a strict code of conduct based on

personal honor and loyalty

o They followed the code of Bushido

The Mongols launched two unsuccessful invasions to

conquer Japan

o With Japans earthquakes and storms, the Mongols had hard

times trying to invade Japan