1) Early Japan was ruled by small clans warring with each other until 1185 when samurai became dominant and shoguns ruled with their samurai forces. 2) In the 1500s, Japan unified under one shogunate and isolated itself from the world for hundreds of years. 3) In 1854, Commodore Perry forced Japan to open up to trade with the US and others, revealing how far behind Japan had fallen technologically without contact with the outside world.

1. Japan
“History and Stuff
Related to History”
Hey, there’s Samurai Jack! Is that a
glass of milk? Aw man, that stuff’s
real good for you!

2. Ancient History
• Before 500 BC
• Small clans warring with
each other.
• Rice farming, pottery, art
emerge
• Periods of ruling elites
(up to 1185AD)
• Small tribal wars for power
• Lots of different groups
fighting for control.
• Pretty much isolated
from the rest of the
world.

3. Feudal Japan
• Starting 1185,
Samurai become
dominant
• Shoguns, ruling
governors over large
areas, rule with their
Samurai, the fighting
elite.
• Samurai are like
Knights, but there are
a lot of them…
• Sworn to keep the
Shogun’s peace and
justice, to protect the
land and people, and
to do whatever is
asked of them.

4. Way of the Samurai
• “Honor” becomes
important
• Doing the right thing
(what you are
required to do based
on your position in
life).
• Shame requires
“Seppuku”
• Ritualistic suicide where
the Samurai carves out
their own stomach to die
and reclaim their honor.
• Honor, Duty, Service
• More important than life.

5. Way of the Samurai
• Bushido: The Way of the Warrior
• Loyalty
• Frugality (living an inexpensive life)
• Mastery of Martial Arts
• Honor to the Death
• Honesty
• Respect
• Benevolence (charity)
• Courage
• Rectitude (righteousness)
• Did not change much over 700 years.

6. Isolation
• 1500s, Emperor
Hideyoshi unified Japan
into one Shogunate.
• Samurai, Shoguns, and
Emperors existed for
hundreds of years
without the rest of the
world becoming
involved.
• Jesuit Missionaries
arrived from Portugal in
1600s, first time
outsiders saw Japan.
Missionary being beheaded.

7. Isolation
• Emperors worried that outsiders would ruin their culture and
take their land.
• Started “sakoku” or isolation from the rest of the world.

8. 1854-CommodorePerryofUSAforcesJapantoopenupordie!
Japan forced to see how far behind they are compared to everyone else. No guns, no ships,
very poor without trade, no industry.

9. Meiji Restoration
• Tokugawa ends
Shogunate, begins a
period of
modernization.
• Moves capital from
Kyoto to Tokyo
• Abolishes Shoguns,
Samurais.
• Establishes a modern
government with a
legislative branch and
a constitution.
• Within 50 years, Japan
goes from the least
advanced nations in
the world to one of the
most modern.
• Industry and trade
thrives
• Build exceptional
military weapons…
• And now just itching to
try them out…

10. Russo-Japanese War 1905
• Japan and Russia
debating over mutual
land off Chinese coast.
• Russia (world’s largest
empire, thought to be
greatest power)
declares war on little
Japan.
• War assumed would
be a landslide victory
for Russia.

11. Big MISTAKE!
• Japan totally
dominates Russia
• Land and at sea.
• Russia seen as
incompetent, Japan
considered a global
power.
• Sets stage for Japan
to start becoming a
major empire.

12. Before WWII
• Japan aggressive in
building an empire
• China, Korea, Vietnam
are all areas that Japan
has its fingers in.
• Want to control all of
the Pacific.
• Rape of Nanking 1937-
38
• 250,000+ murdered in
China
• “Forgotten WWII
Holocaust”

13. World War II
• America as “neutral”
• Refused to sell oil to
Japan
• Pearl Harbor Attack
• Dec 7th, 1941
• Japan assaults
American ships off
coast of Hawaii
• “Awakens a sleeping
giant”

14. World War TOOOOO
• America vs. Japan for
the Pacific.
• Japan a tremendous
enemy
• No surrender, no mercy
• Most of Japanese navy
destroyed at Midway,
Japan continues to
fight without arms or
ammunition.

15. Hiroshima and Nagasaki
• America develops
Atomic Bomb
• Strongest weapon in the
world.
• 100,000+ tons of
dynamite
• Only made 2
• Asks Japan to
surrender or be
bombed.
• Japan refused.
• Hiroshima, a civilian
city, bombed.
• 75,000+ dead instantly
• Next day, Japan asked
to surrender, they
refuse.
• Nagasaki, civilian city,
bombed.
• 75,000+ dead instantly

16. Hiroshima Nagasaki

17. Japan Surrenders, Review
• How was early Japan
ruled?
• What was the purpose of
the Bushido code? What
were some of the ideas?
• Why did Japan start
trading with the rest of
the world?
• What was the Meiji
Restoration?
• What did the Russo-
Japanese War show the
world?
• Why did Japan attack
America at Pearl Harbor?
• What would you have
done if you were Truman
and the “go or no go”
bombing order came
across your desk?