1. Edo and the Modernization of Japan

2. Chaos in Japan
The time before the Edo period was marked by weak shoguns and in-fighting
This was all to change at the end of the 16th century

3. The Three Unifiers Oda Nobunaga Toyotomi Hediyoshi Tokugawa Ieyasu
By 1550 Oda was the most powerful daimyo with control of Kyoto and the central plans of Japan
Toyotomi Hediyoshi
After a very bloody civil war, Toyotomi was able to take control and persuade most of the other daimyo to follow him
But like Oda did not make himself shogun
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Like Toyotomi before him Tokugawa violently took power and moved the capital to Edo
Naming himself shogun Tokugawa effectively took control of Japan

4. Nanban: European Encounters
In 1543 AD the first Europeans, the Portuguese, landed in Japan
Like in China, the Japanese accepted the Europeans at first, especially the Unifiers who used the firearms they brought with them

5. Nanban cont.
With trade also came Jesuit missionaries, who were at first tolerated
When they started to destroy Shinto shrines however, they severely damaged Japanese/European relations

6. Changes in the Edo Period
Along with the trade from the exotic Europeans, the Tokugawa shoguns started to change the way Japan was governed
Hans
Hostage System

7. Economic Changes in Edo
Unlike with the han system, Japan stopped strictly following Confucian ideals
The Tokugawa found that trade was important to the country
Out of this came a new merchant class and a period of peasant revolts

8. Social Changes
In addition to trade, the Tokugawa also affected society as well
The emergent merchant class was one of four classes that made up a strict class system in Japan
Warrior
Peasants
Artisans
Merchants

9. Social Changes cont.
Like in China women were very restricted in Edo Japan
Though they were valued in the home as child bearers and homemakers, women have very little rights