11-Japanese_History-Kamakura_Period_up_to_Edo

Chapter 1: Introduction

• Overview of Japanese History

  • Exploration of historical narratives beyond the Heian period.

  • Importance of mapping historical movements and events.

• Nara Period

  • Centralized palace established in Nara, which shifted power to Kyoto.

  • Kyoto served as a significant capital over centuries.

• Kamakura Period (1185-1333)

  • Transition from Heian to Kamakura marked by cultural and political change.

  • Heian emperors' erosion of power leading to rise of feudalism.

  • Emergence of powerful local lords who operated independently, resembling medieval European fiefdoms.

Chapter 2: Become Shogun

• Rise of Military Rule

  • Samurai class emerges, displacing the traditional nobles as rulers.

  • Aristocratic relationships were pivotal in establishing shogunal power.

  • Symbolic maintaining of imperial court authority in Kyoto.

• Shogun Definition

  • "Shogun" as a title derived from "Eastern Barbarians Subduing Great General."

  • Initial role aimed at subduing northern tribes including the Ainu people.

Chapter 3: Time A Shogun

• Governance by Shogun Class

  • Shoguns exercised real power despite the presence of an emperor.

  • Each new Shogun received titles from Kyoto, controlling central governance.

• Challenges to Power

  • Period marked by internal conflicts and civil strife, with various warring factions.

Chapter 4: Japan Saying

• Growth Amidst Conflict

  • Japanese resistance against Kublai Khan’s Mongolian invasions in the 1200s.

  • First invasion repelled by Japanese samurai despite being outnumbered.

• Second Invasion

  • Failed Mongolian navy attack thwarted by a typhoon (kamikaze).

  • Historical significance of kamikaze, linking it to future World War II references.

Chapter 5: Including Pure Land Buddhism

• Post-Invasion Effects

  • Economic strain following Mongolian conflicts.

  • Efforts for imperial restoration led by Emperor Go Daigo in 1333.

• Cultural Developments

  • Agricultural advancements, including improved irrigation techniques.

  • Rise of Pure Land, Nichiren, and Zen Buddhism as educational and service centers.

Chapter 6: A Cool Period

• Cultural Renaissance

  • Flourishing of poetry and artistic traditions during the Kamakura period.

  • Development of epic narratives and engagement in artistic endeavors by samurai and women.

• Historical Importance

  • Kamakura's legacy extends to the arts and samurai culture.

Chapter 7: Court Of Period

• Shogunate Control

  • Return to feudal lordism with fragmented power by the 1300s.

• Artistic Growth

  • Emergence of Zen Buddhism and a court society thriving despite political instability.

  • Starting cultural contact with the West in the 1500s.

Chapter 8: Redefined Japan

• Increase in Warfare Technology

  • Introduction of firearms by Portuguese traders in the 1600s led to arms race.

• Economic Changes

  • Development of currency and population growth; reaching over 10 million.

  • Introduction of Christianity through missionaries reshaping social and political dimensions.

Chapter 9: Napoleon Of Period

• Warlord Unification

  • Late 1500s unified under Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s rule.

  • Use of religion (Christianity and Buddhism) to form international relationships.

• Martial Development

  • Confiscation of weapons led to improvised martial arts training and evolution of weaponry.

Chapter 10: Conclusion

• Shift in Land Ownership

  • Efforts to empower commoners and diminish the power of feudal lords.

  • Introduction of land rights reshaping social structures.

  • Discussion of the upcoming Edo period and the Meiji Restoration in future lectures.