Bellringer: 4/22 + 4/25
1) Pick up the papers by the door.
2) Turn in your Aztecs DBQ packet to your class
drawer.
3) Update your Table of Contents (ToC):
1) Page 147 – Asia SPICE Notes Chart
2) Page 148 – AAA Unit Review Worksheet
HOMEWORK: 4/22 + 4/25
1) Study for your Africa, Americas, and Asia unit minitest NEXT CLASS!
1) Tuesday, 4/26 – 3rd
2) Wednesday, 4/27 – 5th and 8th
Part 1: Japan
Where is Japan?
• Only 500 miles from
China
• Is an ARCHIPELAGO –
a group of islands
– Japan is made up of 4,000
islands!
Geography: ADVANTAGES
• Mild climate
• Plenty of rainfall
Geography: DISADVANTAGES
• Very mountainous
• Only 15% of land is
farmable
• Short in natural
resources like: Coal,
oil, iron
– Means they have to
seek out trade
opportunities
• Japan experiences
typhoons,
earthquakes and
tsunamis
The Basics: Japan
• Japan was made up
of hundreds of
clans that
controlled their
own territories
• Worshipped
nature gods and
goddesses
– Later known as
Shintoism
POLITICS: Yamato Clan
• Leading clan in Japan by
5th century
– Fancied themselves
emperor, but they weren’t'
• The clans had real power
– Whichever clan had the
most power  controlled
the emperor
RELIGION: Shintoism
• Shinto means = way of
the gods
– Shintoism respected
nature and the
worship of ancestors
• Kami – divine spirits that
dwelled in nature
– Beautiful tree, rock,
waterfall
– Home of kami
Torii
• A traditional Japanese gate that is found at the
entry way into a Shinto shrine.
RELIGION: Shinto and Buddhism
• Buddhism started in India
– Spread to China  Japan
RELIGION: Japanese-Infused Buddhism
• Japan was impressed
by Buddhism’s
teachings, beautiful
ceremonies and art
• Buddhism and Shinto
began to get
combined
CULTURE and INTERACTIONS: Chinese Influence
• System of writing
• Ways of painting
• Followed Chinese
styles of cooking,
gardening, drinking tea
and hairdressing
• Strong central
government
• Tried the civil service
exam but nobles were
too powerful
POLITICAL and SOCIAL: Heian Period
• 794 CE: the imperial court
moved its capital to Heian
(modern day Kyoto)
• Heian Period = highly
refined court society
arose
• Had many rules
– Length of swords
– Color of robes
– Even number of skirts
women wore
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL: Heian Period
• Etiquette (good manners) were extremely important
– Loud laughing, or mismatched clothes were considered
deeply embarrassing
• Everyone at the court was expected to write poetry and paint
• Lady Murasaki Shikibu – Tale of Genji
– Life of a prince in the imperial court
– Detailed description of court life during this period
CULTURE and SOCIAL: The Samurai
• Soldiers attacked farmers 
Landowners employed SAMURAI
(bodyguards)
– Lived according to the
BUSHIDO – code of behavior or
“the way of the warrior”
• Show courage
• Reverence to gods
• Protect those who were
weaker
• Die an honorable death
INTERACTIONS: Japan
• Japan was attacked
by the Mongols and
saved by kamikazes.
• Some say Japan
was saved by
tsunamis that
destroyed Mongol
forces
RESEARCHING POST-CLASSICAL CHINA:
• Use pages 287-291 in the textbook on
your desk to fill in the China column of
your notes.
• You can work with the people with whom
you are sitting
Post - Classical China
Social / Cultural
Arrival of Buddhism – Impacts Art and
Religion
Neo-Confucianism
- Strengthening of five relationships
- Changing Gender roles (emperor of
household and footbinding
- Repression of Buddhists (loss of tax
$$)
Chinese Foot-Binding
Political
Sui, Tang, and Song (Dynasty)
- Mandate of Heaven
- Civil Service Examinations
- Expansion of territory under the Tang, and
shrinking under the Song
- : Korea and Japan – Kowtow to Chinese
Emperor
Economic
• Focus on internal trade
• Invention of paper money, compass, and
gunpowder, and restaurants (yummy!!)
• Increases in population due to Champa
rice
• Porcelain and Silk still major trading
commodities