medieval japan
DESCRIPTION
Medieval Japan. I. Medieval Japan. a. Geography. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
I. Medieval Japana. Geography
It is very mountainous and is an archipelago, a chain of many islands. Because of the mountains, traveling is very difficult so the sea became an important route. Only 15 % of the land is flat enough for farming. The sea also provided protection and plenty of fish.It is 500 miles from the coast of China but only 100 miles from Korea.
Japan was formed by volcanoes and earthquakes, tidal waves, & hurricanes are still common. It has few natural resources like coal or oil. It has a mild climate with plenty of rain. So, rice grows well there.
b. Prince Shotoku (573-621)-Shotoku was a regent for the emperor from 593-622. He sent scholars & artists to china to study their society. He based the government on Confucian principles (hard work/obedience to authority). The guidelines were placed in the Seventeen Article Constitution. -Shinto was the religion (way of the gods). It is based on the respect for nature and ancestors. Rocks, trees, rivers, & other natural objects are home to divine spirits.
c. Buddhism
-Buddhism influence starts during the Shotoku reign as it blended with Shinto. It spread rapidly and was practiced alongside Shinto. Buddhism’s belief that peace and happiness could be gained by leading a life of virtue and wisdom appealed to many. Different types of Buddhism started to surface. Japan’s culture (literature, laws, and religion) was very similar to China’s.-Zen Buddhism Zen means meditation. Emphasis is on self-discipline, simplicity, and meditation. Quiet reflection was more useful than performing ceremonies or studying scriptures. It stated life thru inner peace rather than the idea of salvation.
c. Heian Empire (800’s)
Japan developed its’ own traditions and Split w/ China officially in 894. It lasted more than 500 years.
Kyoto (kee OH toh), capital ruled by the Heians. It was modeled after Chang’ an in China Great city of the Tang Dynasty.
-not High walls -mansions for nobles-2 marketplaces-palace for the emperor-very wide open to prevent fires from the common wooden buildings of the time in Japan. -Canals ran through the city to help w fires
Japanese Nobility
It was a very peaceful time during which culture reached new heights (Architecture, literature, beautiful gardens) for the nobles.Other people (Farmers, fishers, traders, & builders) worked very hard. Nobles felt their position in society put them above the rest. There were even ranks among the nobles as they word different role colors to distinguish a hierarchy. Women couldn’t hold office thus didn’t fall into those rules.
e. Rise of the Shogun
In the 1000s, Japanese emperor began to lose power. Nobles started to gain power via the economic system of Feudalism. Samurai/Shoguns warriors
Nobles became so powerful that they didn’t listen to the Emperor & even hired their own armies. They began the Samurais. The rules of the Samurai were known as the bushido (BOO shee doh).
-Honor meant more than wealth or life-Never show weakness or surrender-No fear of death (to die is better than shame)-Commit ritual suicide (Seppuku) rather than
betray the code
Shoguns Samurai grew in numbers and formed their won clans. Each clan promised loyalty to a powerful warlord or Daimyo (they paid no taxes).
Minamoto Yoritomo’s, the first shogun in 1192, (mee nah MOH toh you ree TOH moh) clan became the most powerful. Shogun was the title to the leader of the Minamoto clan.
Mongol attacks
Kublai Khan, already conquered China & Korea, twice tried to invade Japan. After 1200, few foreigners tried to invade.
Theater and poetry also thrived under the Tokugawas.
Haiku, a three-line poem that expresses a
feeling or picture in only 17 syllables
Plays featuring life size
puppets called bunraku
were popular
Kabuki Theater combines drama, dance and music.
f. Life in Medieval Japan
-Art and Architecture-Poems and plays-Role of women
Painting and Literature• Japanese
painters adapted a style of Chinese landscape painting
• Wood-block printing
• A return to “serious” literatureWave, wood-block print
II. Medieval Indiaa. India’s Geography
India forms a triangular shape in the southernmost part of Central Asia. The Himalayas Mountains stretch across the northern part of India. In Indus River and the Ganges River lie south of the Himalayas. Most of the land is well suited for farming.
Delhi
b.The Delhi Sultanate (Called that because capital was Delhi & ruled by
Sultan)Before the Mongols invade India in the late middle Ages, India was invaded by Muslims around the 1000’s.
India was full of riches such as pearls, rubies, diamonds, etc.
Sultans or Muslim rulers would control Northern India and parts of Bangladesh and Pakistan from 1206-1526.
Rubies
Diamonds
Golden Dishes
The Hindu religion was making a comeback at the time of the Muslim invasion. -accept many gods -these gods are different aspects of one Supreme Being -Social classes are part of the natural order of the universe
The Hindu Caste System, strict system of social class, controlled everyday life. Muslims did not become part of this society and it causes problems that still exist today between Muslims and Hindus.
At the top were priests, teachers, judges (Brahman)
Second were warriors (Kshatriya)
Third came farmers and merchants (Vaishya)
Fourth included craftspeople and laborers (Artisans)(Sudra)
Finally there was a group of poor and powerless people who were called untouchables. (Harijan = outcastes)
Hindus are born into their Caste
A person’s castes are determined by their job and status.
Muslims who controlled the Delhi Sultanate did not become part of the Hindu society.
Muslim culture is based on beliefs that are very different from those of Hindu culture and there difference caused conflicts between the two groups.
Fall of the Delhi SultanateIn 1526, a Mongol prince named Babur (BAH bur) He was outnumbered 10-1 but he attacked the Sultan’s army. The Sultan had 100 elephants and Babur had 0. But Babur had cannons & better fighters and when he won he ushered in a new period in India’s history.
c. The Mughal Empire (ruled India until the 1700’s)
Mughal is another name for Mongol. The greatest Mughal leader was the grandson of Babur, Akbar the Great.
-Akbar the Great: came to power at the age of 13. He expanded the territory by conquest, treaties and marriage. He also encouraged the arts and was accepting of most the major religions. He won over the Hindu’s with his policy of toleration. He allowed them religious freedom as well as getting rid of unfair taxes. He created a strong central government. -Shah Jahan, Akbar’s grandson, ruled when the empire started to fall apart. He was ruling when the Taj Mahal was built. It was built for his wife as a tomb. Shah Jahn was grief stricken when she died. His son, Aurangzeb (AWR ung zeb) reversed many of Akbar Hindu policies and it led to feuding and the empire split in 1707.
Jahan’s son, Aurangzeb imprisoned his father at Agra Fort for more than eight years. He died with his eyes gazing upon the Great Taj Mahal!
Aurangzeb spent more money on expensive wars and revised Akbar’s policies toward Hindus.
He tried to force Hindus to convert to the Muslim faith (Islam) and began to tax them.
Many Hindus rebelled and fighting the rebels cost more money.
After Aurangzeb died in 1707, the empire split into small kingdoms.
When he came to power he was only 13 years old but he was able to expand the Mughal Empire.
Akbar encouraged the arts.
He set up studios far painters at his court
He supported poets, although he never learned how to read or write.
He brought together scholars from different religions for discussions. He consulted with Muslims, Hindu, Buddhists, and Christians.
Akbar was Muslim but gained the support of his Hindu subjects through his policy of toleration.
He allowed Hindus to practice their religion freely and he ended unfair taxes that had been required of non-Muslims.
Akbar created a strong central government and he gave government jobs to qualified people, whatever their religion or caste.
These policies helped Hindus and Muslims live together and strengthen Mughal power in India.
In 1605, Akbar died most of the northern India was under his control.
He ruled the Mughal Empire for 49 years, earning himself he nickname “the Great.”
More than 100 years after Akbar’s death, the Mughal Empire began to fall apart.
Akbar’s grandson, Shah Jahan became emperor in 1628 and spent a fortune on extravagant buildings.
The Taj Mahal, a tomb for the emperor’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
When his wife died, Jahan was overcome with grief and he was set out to build a tomb “as beautiful as she was beautiful.”
Shah JahanShah Jahan
Aurangzeb is in Red