1. Japan

2. Geography -The islands of Japan were under sea mountains.
- 20% of Japan is flat.
-Because of their mountains many people built houses by sea.
-The Japanese diet was seafood such as fish, seaweed, squid, etc.

3. Social Structure -Emperor( figurehead for Shogun )
-Shogun ( military leaders)
-Samurai and Daimyo (warriors and lords)
-Peasants (poor and had no power)

4. Religion Shinto was the original religion of Japan
Shinto based off of nature
In Shinto every thing in nature had a spirit
Shinto was the religion until Prince Shotoku converted all of Japan to Buddhism
- Over time Japan invented new types of Buddhism such as Pure Land Buddhism and in the 1100’s they created Zen Buddhism

5. Art and Culture
Japan reached a golden age during Heian period or the peaceful period during the 800’s to the 1100’s
Nobles created a court system because the wanted to win the emperor’s favor
A woman from the noble class named Lady Murasaki is believed to of written the first novel, The Tale of Genji
Nobles took care of how they spoke and wrote
Many women wrote diaries and journals
Many of the greatest works were written by women

6. Japanese Military Society
- In Japan they had Shogun which were powerful military leaders that ruled In the emperors name
- Daimyo were lords that hired Samurai to fight for them and in exchange they got land
- Samurai were professional warriors that served Shogun and Daimyo in exchange the got land

7. Samurai
- Samurai were well trained warriors that served in battle for Shogun or hired by Daimyo to protect crops from invaders
- Samurai followed a code called Bushido( The way of the warrior)
- Many Samurai after war to calm them and to bring peace would carve Haikus on trees
- Samurai also practiced Zen Buddhism

8. Language
- The first Japanese writing used Chinese characters
- They eventually made their own writing system

9. Japan at War
- Mongols after defeating China Mongols invaded Japan
- Kublai Khan sent his army of Mongols to invade Japan the shogun acted fast and sent his own army to fight against the Mongols
- Japan was aided by a massive storm that sank many Mongolian ships

10. The end of Medieval Japan
- Many Japanese leaders wanted more power soon in the 1500's war broke out as many leaders struggle to rule Japan
- Japan went into an Isolation period an this ended Medieval Japan