Rise of Feudalism Flashcards
Bakufu
A tent government that ruled Japan during most of the period from 1185 to 1868
Civil war
A the war between citizens of the same country
Hereditary
The title of someone in a social class
Feudalism
Feudalism in medieval Japan (1185-1603 CE) describes the relationship between lords and vassals where land ownership and its use was exchanged for military service and loyalty
Jito
Jitō were medieval territory stewards in Japan
Kamakaze
The kamikaze were two winds or storms that are said to have saved Japan from two Mongol fleets under Kublai Khan
Mongols
The Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia.
Samurai
Samurai were the military nobility and officer caste of the medieval Japanese military. The word samurai means ‘one who serves
Shogun
The literal term is ‘barbarian conquering general’. A shogun was the title appointed by the Emporer given to the top military commander in Japan.
Shoen
Shoen was large estate that were free from imperial taxation and administration. Instead, the peasants living on that shoen were taxed and governed by the governor of that shoen
Shugo
Shugo was a feudal official of ancient Japan originally appointed by Yoritomo Minamoto. Their duties were to maintain peace and command other officials
Tributary State
A state subordinate to a more powerful neighbouring state
Vassals
The vassals gave the shoguns soldiers or supplies and fought to control local territories in the name of the shogun.
How did shoen grow in the Heian period
Peasants significantly contributed to the growth of shoens as most of them gave up the land they independently controlled to cultivate and asked local governors to include it in their shoen.
What impact did the spreading shoen have on the power of the emporer
It reduced the amount of tax they could get from landholders and it reduced their authority over more significant portions of the population. This undermined the political and economic power of the emporer.
How did samurai become a powerful social class
In 792 the military system changed from large armies maintained through a system of universal military service or conscription to small troops created from locally enlisted samurai. The Emporer couldn’t fund these troops but daimyo could, which is why the rise of samurai can be traced back to the growth of Shoens.
How did Family rivalries effect the rise of the Kamakura Shogunate
Fujiwara controlled Japan but when Emporer Go-sanjo appointed Mimaoto clan members in government offices the Fujiwara’s power declined
The Minamoto clan were then the most powerful daiymo clan
However their authority was challenged by the Taira clan through the Genpei wars
Genpei Wars
War spanned from 1180 - 1185
The Minamoto clan began this after the Taira clan defeated them in the Heji Rebellion
Caused as the public believed, Taira clan had too much power
Most of the nation was also loyal to the Minamoto clan
Heji Rebellion
This was caused as their were two clans wanting control over the imperial throne: the tiara and the Minamoto
How did the first Shogunate form
The leader of the Minamoto clan, Minamoto Yoritomo, gained control over Japan in 1185 after winning the Genpei wars thus taking power from the Tiara clan
What were the achievements of the Kamakura Bakufu
Power passed from the emporer to the shogun
The society transferred to a farming economy, with samurai and daiymo granting land to vassals in return for loyalty and military service
Buddhism was introduced to the public and gained power
Cultures such as poetry, music, painting, and wood sculpture advanced
Mongol Invasions
These were 2 unsuccessful attempts to invade northern Kyushu from 1274 - 1281
No known cause for these invasions but it is believed that Kublai Khan wanted to re-establish his Mongol heritage and re-kindle trade relationships with China
How did the Mongol invasions impact the Kamakura Shogunate
It devastated Japanese resources and power in the region, nearly destroying the samurai culture and Empire of Japan entirely before a typhoon miraculously spared their last stronghold
How did the Kamakura Shogunate collapse
In 1333 the rule of nobles was restored when Emporer Go-Daigo revisited the military government
Samurai from the Ashikaga clan supported him and the Kamakura Shogunate collapsed
Warring States of Japan
A period of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 - 1615. It wasn’t until Oda Nobunaga and his clan unified Japan that this age of warfare ended.
