Tokugawa [Edo] Period (Feudal Japan) Class System Project
View Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire, Episode Two. You can watch it online
at the following URL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW1rzOu8TUc
Please note that if your Internet connection is slow, you can download the video
using keepvid.com and save it as a movie file to watch on your computer’s video
player without waiting for the video to load (this is what I do all the time, especially
if I want to refer back to the video I am watching).
Please focus your attention on the issue of class in feudal Japan noting the structure
and rigid nature of the system. The specific information you that you should pay
special attention to can be found in sections. Minutes 14:00-15:30 of the video
focus on the issue of class in feudal Japan noting the structure and rigid nature of
the system. Also, pay attention to the section that discusses the various groups who
made up Japanese society in the 1700s (minutes 24-44 in the video).
From the video, and previous discussions in class on feudalism, you will note
that there were different classes in of feudal Japan and that individuals within
each of those classes played specific roles within society. Depending on what
class you belonged to, there were restrictions on movement within Japan as well as
punishments that were enforced for not abiding by the laws that applied to each
group. These different groups (or classes) included: shoguns (leaders),
samurai warriors, artisans, merchants and farmers.
For this assignment, you will first have to access background information on each
of the formally mentioned groups by going to the following websites:
http://www.pbs.org/empires/japan/traveltokaido.html
http://www.pbs.org/empires/japan/enteredo.html
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Using the information from both the video, the above websites and your own
research, you are to then go to
http://www.glogster.com
and create a Glog from the perspective of one person/character of YOUR
CHOICE living in Edo in the 1700s. YOU MAY choose to be farmer, samurai,
artisan, Christian, laborer or a woman (using the film) or a bookseller, street
vendor, guard, monk, woman or tea seller (using the ABOVE Web sites as well
as your own research). In your Glog, you should convey what daily life was
like for a member of this group, how easy of difficult the lives may have been,
what freedoms they may have enjoyed, etc. The use of pictures and images as
well as text and video in the creation of you Glog is encouraged. I have provided
a rubric below on expectation for this assignment. Please include text and images
(preferably secondary sources or from that time period) in your Glog
presentation to enhance your work. Creativity and effort are encouraged.
Completion and accuracy of your Glog: The following grading system will
be used to evaluate this assignment:
45-50 points: Excellent!
States and explains society member’s role in society
Explains daily routine with a minimum of three examples
Explains the challenges of their lives with a minimum of three (3) examples
Explains the advantages of their place in society with a minimum of three (3)
examples (minimum 5 images or pictures)
Overall, statements are clear and explanations complete. Examples are not
only specific and relevant, but also help illustrate the point very well.
39-44 points: Good!
States and explains their role in society
Explains daily routine with two to three (2-3) examples
Explains the challenges of their lives with two to three (2-3) examples
Explains the advantages of their place in society with two to three (2-3)
examples (minimum 4 images or pictures)
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For the most part, explanations are complete. Examples are specific and
relevant, and to some extent help illustrate the point very well.
30-38 points: Minimal.
States their role in society
Explains daily routine with examples
Explains the challenges of their lives with examples
Explains the advantages of their place in society with examples (minimum 3
pictures)
Explanations lack detail and/or depth. Examples are also basic and do little to
help illustrate the point OR examples may be irrelevant or not specific
enough.
29- points: INCOMPLETE
Missing some explanations and/or examples.
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