1. MEDIEVAL JAPAN

2. Japan has around 4,000 islands
Honshu
Shikoku
Kyushu
Hokkaido

3. Most of Japan is extremely mountainous.
Therefore only a small portion of the land is arable. This forced the Japanese to rely heavily on the sea for food.

4. Shinto Considered the native religion of Japan
Animistic and polytheistic religion that centers upon love and reverence for nature
Worshiped spirits known as kami (everything has its own kami)

5. Japan borrows from the West
Buddhism introduced by Koreans
Japanese borrowed a lot from China
Writing
Landscape art
Cooking
Gardening
Medicine
Japanese always made it their own

6. The Tale of Genji Written by Lady Murasaki
Believed to be the world’s first novel

7. Japanese Emperors
The Yamoto clan began claiming to be emperors of all Japan during the 7th century despite not controlling even a majority of the land.
The idea stuck and the Yamotos were never thrown out of power
However, the strongest warlord would actually hold the power, but rule in the emperor’s name

8. Japanese Feudalism
By the twelfth century, small landowners were giving portions of their land to powerful warlords in return for protection.
The warlords built up armies of warriors called samurai (they create a warrior class in Japan)
The most powerful warlords were known as daimyo

11. Bushido Code Way of the warrior
Stressed bravery, self-discipline, loyalty, fairness, and generosity to those weaker than himself
Stressed living with honor and encouraged an honorable death

12. Geishas
Professional entertainers
Performed classical music and dance

13. The Kamakura Shogunate
In the late 12th century, the two most powerful clans fought with each other.
The emperor declared the leader of the winning clan (the Minamoto family) to be the Shogun or “supreme general of the emperor’s army.”
Essentially the Shogun ruled as a military dictator over all of Japan