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Shoguns, Samurai and the Japanese Middle Ages

Shoguns, Samurai and the Japanese Middle Ages

During Era 4, political power in Japan underwent many changes. After a period of increasing decentralization, that trend started to reverse.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.

Think about the following questions as you watch the video


  1. Beginning around the late twelfth century, what class became increasingly powerful? Who lost power?
  2. What new political system emerged around this time?
  3. Was power centralized under the shogunate or bakufu system? Who held power under this system?
  4. What are some similarities between the bakufu system in Japan and feudalism in Europe?
  5. What did guns have to do with Japanese reunification?