1. Japan before 1868.

Core - Use the information and sources of your workbook (pages 12-18)  and your
own research to complete the following tasks. 

Challenge - you could also use Cambridge Year 11 Textbook (pages

a. identify key physical features and geographic extent

A main island country with a string of Islands on the coast of Asia.

b. describe the structure of the society

The society was progressing however the regime was in constant change and trouble as
leaders kept killing each other and bombing kept on happening, majorly affecting the
structure of the society within Japan. Higher social wealth classes ruled as they were the
most respected and had the abilities to shape Japan.

c. explain the role of leaders

Japan was largely under the militaries rule until 1868 however, The Shogunate were the
rulers of the country. The court maintained official and religious functions, and the
shogunate welcomed participation by members of the highest social and wealth class.

d. outline key features of the economy

The society was divided into wealth classes, which ultimately affected the economy majorly.
Peasants wouldn’t have enough money to buy bread, however the top wealth class could
afford all they want. The system was corrupted and so was the economy, due to the regime.
The country started to become a market economy.

e. describe main religious beliefs and cultural features

The Imperial government, which was determined to unify the country and to purify Shinto
from foreign influences, ordered the separation of Buddhism and Shinto. Buddhism fell out
of favour with the new government, and Shinto was declared the official religion of the
state.

f. discuss the lives and work of men, women and children

Men and women inequality were not recognised in the Meiji Restoration, however the
women were incredibly undermined by men. Men were allowed to do many more things than
women, one being the ability to work in most jobs. Where men were able to work in whatever
job they wanted, women (on the special occasion that they were actually allowed to work)
were forced to work in jobs that they wouldn’t have wanted to work in (such as sewing).
Children labour was the norm as most children’s lives and rights were stripped away from
them as they were enforced into working hard labour and manufacturing jobs for little to no
money, and starved and working the whole day, not being able to attend school. Most girls
were not educated and mostly only rich people were educated.
You could use the table below to record you information if you would like

Geography Society

Leaders Economy

Religion and culture Lives and work of men, women and children