1. Chapter 11, Part 3: Japan During the Middle Ages

2. Introductory Discussion Question:
Why do you think Japan was never conquered by the Chinese or the Mongols?
Crash Course World History, Middle Ages in Japan
WajpONGX3zoY4M&index=27
Feudal Japan

3. Japan’s Geography Mountainous archipelago =
chain of many Islands
4 main islands = Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku
Japan’s total land area is about the size of Montana
Very mountainous – only 11% of the land can be farmed
Very dense population
Island nation = isolated and unique cultural qualities. Nationalism!

4. China’s Influence on Japan
China could never conquer Japan, but because of its close location:
Cultural influences
Buddhism – Buddhist monks from China in the 500s
Government – centralized system under a supreme ruler

5. Samurai and Bushido Deconstructing History: The Samurai 
bushido/videos/deconstructing-history- samurai
Using the laptops, research:
What was life like for a Japanese Samurai. What were their roles in society?
What is Bushido? How does it relate to the Samurai? (sounds like a little like chivalry in Europe, no?)

6. Japanese Shogunate Let’s discuss: 3. What is a shogun?
Explain the system of Japanese government known as Shogunate?

7. The Role of Women in Japan
Unlike China, women had some level of equality with men.
Women were guaranteed inheritance rights
Abandoned wives could divorce or remarry
Had active role in society
Wealthy women were prominent in government and court systems
Artists and Literary figures
Business owners and entertainers

8. Japanese Religion Turn to page 223 in your textbook to answer
the following:
5. Shintoism is strictly unique to Japan. What are the basic ideas
of this religion?
Buddhism was brought to Japan by Chinese Monks. Japanese developed Zen Buddhism. What is Zen Buddhism?