Warring States Period- The Tokugawa Period

The Onin War

After Ashikaga took over the shogunate in 1336, Japan never remained truly unified

Because Japan was full of castles and warriors under control of daimyos, small wars occurred for decades

In 1467, a devastating civil war known as the Onin War broke out

The Onin War

This civil war lasted over a century

In order to protect their people, daimyos began building large castles, walls, and armies

During this time, farmers and villagers became wealthier and lived better lives

Oda Nobunaga

Around this time a daimyo known as Oda Nobunaga began unifying Japan

Nobunaga was from a poor country family but due to his bravery and leadership was made military leader of the emperor

With his new power, Nobunaga started destroying the powers of other daimyos and private Buddhist armies

A Unified Japan

Nobunaga would unify most of Japan for the first time in over a century and would make his capital Edo (modern Tokyo)

Shortly after, however, he would be assassinated and one of his generals, Hideyoshi, would take over his rule

At this point, neither Hideyoshi or Nobunada were not Shogun

Although they held all the power in Japan they still supported the weakened Ashikaga shogunate

A Unified Japan

When Hideyoshi died in 1593, his son was to be left in charge when he became of age

Until than Japan would be led by a council

Before Hideyoshi’s son could become emperor Nobunaga’s other general, Tokugawa Ieyasu, defeated the other members of council and gave himself the tile of shogun

The Tokugawa Era

The Tokugawa Shoguns would rule over Japan until 1867, the same year Canada became a country

In order to keep daimyos from becoming to powerful, the Tokugawa Shoguns made them live part of the year in the capital city Edo

When daimyos went to their fiefs, their family had to stay in Edo

What is the Youngest Country in the World?

Kosovo February 2008

South Sedan July 2011

Montenegro May 2006

Canada July 1867

European Contact

Europeans began arriving in Japan beginning with the Portuguese in the sixteenth century

Shortly after the Spanish, Dutch, and English followed

Due to Japan’s hunger for trade, Europeans were welcomed into Japan at first

European Contact

The first major impact of the Europeans in Japan was guns

Guns became very popular in Japan and were shortly included in warfare

Perhaps more importantly, however, was the impact of Christianity

Christianity in Japan

As usual with the Spanish and Portuguese, Catholics missionaries began missions and building churches in Japan

One of the first missionaries was Saint Francis Xavier

Within a few years, thousands of Japanese had converted to Christianity

The Expulsion of Western Culture

Japanese emperors quickly became hostile to this alien religion and banned it in Japan

Missionaries were forced to leave in and in some cases killed

Japanese Christians were put to death

After a rebellion in 1637 almost all contact with the west was cut off

The Last Samurai Clip