Feudalism: Europe vs. Japan
Just like a democracy, a monarchy or a dictatorship, feudalism is another form of government used to rule large groups of people. Feudalism took form around the 850's A.D. when a strong central government was not working well. According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, feudalism means: a political and economic system of Europe from the 9th to about the 15th century, based on the relation of lord to vassal as a result of land being held on condition of homage and service. This basically what the government was. Lords and nobles gave land to other nobles called vassals in return loyalty, ransom, (if they were captured in war) an army, taxes and other services when they were asked. This system of government was used in Europe and Japan during the middle ages (850's - 1500's A.D). Charlemagne, the son of Pepin, came to the throne of the Carolingian dynasty in France in 768 A.D. He wanted to revive the Roman Empire and Pope Leo III crowned him "Emperor of the Romans." He ruled until 814, but his son, Louis the Pious could not keep the empire together. His three sons, Lothair, Charles and Louis did no better as the empire split into three parts
Japan was island country off the coast of China consisting of four main islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyusha and Shikoku) and many more small ones. Most of the people in Japan were of Asian descendants who traveled to the island very early on. In the early 700's A.D., Japan was ruled by an emperor in a strong, centralized government. However, this system started to fall apart in the early 800's and local governments started to sprout up even though the emperor remained. A fierce civil battle broke out between rival clans known as the Taira clan and Minamoto clan. The Minamoto clan was victorious and Minamoto Yoritomo was crowned shogun by the emperor. As shogun, he had great power and was able to make military action against anyone he pleased. On the class scale, the shogun was right below the emperor. He set up the feudal military administration, which would be the form of feudalism in Japan until 1868. Yoritomo controlled most of Japan's political issues and he created his capital at Kamakura on Honshu Island. After Yorimoto's death, the Hojo clan claimed power. However neither of these shogunates did well and emperor Go-Daigo put an end to the Kamakura shogunate, but didn't succeed in bringing back power to the imperial dynasty. One of his generals, Takauji Ashikaga took over the shogunate for his own clan and it ruled from 1338-1573 in a period known as the Muromachi period. During this period, Japanese feudalism really took its form. Wealthy landlords known as daimyo controlled the land and hired samurai to protect them. The daimyos eventually became the most powerful people in Japan. The samurai were fierce warriors. Originally, the term was applied to the whole military system of Japan, both nobles and vassals. By the beginning of the feudal period in the 12th century, however, it denoted the protectors of the daimyo, who was a feudal baron under the shogun, or military governor, of Japan. The samurai formed a distinct class, wearing two swords as a symbol of their caste and following a rigid code of ethics known as bushido, which meant "the way of the warrior." Bushido was based on such virtues as rectitude, endurance, frugality, courage, politeness, veracity, and, especially loyalty to their ruler and country. A samurai who lost in a battle or dishonored their ruler or country might commit hara-kiri, which was ceremonial suicide to dispose of the embarrassment that went with the loss. Daimyo and their peasants lived very close to each other and crops were grown rapidly. During this feudal period, trading took place between different daimyo and their tribes. Men could become samurai if they proved themselves sufficient with a sword. The main fighting weapon of a samurai was his sword. This form of feudalism in Japan lasted for hundreds of years. . Outside invaders finally put an end to Frankish rule. An anarchy was the new government in France. However, small local governments began to rise, and by 900 A.D., feudalism was the way of life in France. By the 1000's A.D., feudalism
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Approximate Word count = 2046
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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