Essential Questions: How did the geography of Japan influence its development? How did China influence the early development of Japan?
I. The Physical Setting
A. Japan is an island nation
1. Japan consists of thousands of islands that stretch over 1400 miles
a. Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku make up the
country�s four largest islands
-Most of Japan�s population lives on these four islands
B. Japan is very mountainous
1. Therefore, only a small portion of the land can be used for farming
a. Japanese farmers are still able to produce a great deal of food
-They are aided by plentiful rainfall, sunny days, and long growing seasons
-Many rivers also provided irrigation
C. Japanese isolation
1. The seas surrounding Japan protected the islands from foreign
influences
II. Japan�s Beginnings
A. Early History
1. By the first centuries A.D., mainland Asians migrated to Japan
a. These settlers organized themselves in clans
2. Religion played an important role in Japan
a. Early on the Japanese believed in nature spirits or Kami
-These spirits lived in natural objects (i.e. sand, water, trees )
-The religion is now called Shinto
b. Buddhism spread to Japan from China
B. Chinese Influence
1. Chinese art, science, government, and fashion influenced Japan
2. In 702, the Japanese emperor issued a new code of law modeled after
Chinese society
a. These new laws gave the emperor more power over his people
b. Eventually, however, Japanese culture became less dependent
on Chinese models
-For example, poets and writers began to write in Japanese
III. Feudal Japan
A. Government in Feudal Japan
1. The Emperor
a. He sat on the throne but was primarily a figurehead
2. The Shogun or general
a. Controlled the military, finances and laws
3. The Daimyo or powerful local lords
a. They promoted trade and collected taxes
4. The Samurai or warriors
a. Protected the local lords
b. They followed a code of behavior called Bushido
-Stressed bravery, loyalty, and honor
5. The Peasants worked the land