Compare And Contrast Japan And Western Europe

Japan first started out as an isolated nation, but soon it would become one of the most powerful countries during WWII. But before Japan was a powerful Nation, it needed to modernize. According to document 1, Japan was isolated from 1635-1853.1853 to 1854.This was when US Commodore Perry visited Japan and forced them to open their ports(document 1, N.d, timeline. As a result of this, the Japanese create the Meiji Restoration. According to document 5, the emperor is given the power to command the Army and the Navy end to rule over Japan, but the citizens too have a house of representatives( Alfred Stead,1904, Doc 5).

different in many ways. In the medieval period there were some peaceful times, like with Pax

Imagine a knight, jousting in an arena in Europe during the Middle Ages. Surprisingly, across the world during approximately the same time period, samurai warriors fought in Japan. During the time period, 1000 to 1600 CE, the samurai and knights fought in battle in many different ways. Many differences between the samurai and knights included codes, armor, training, and religions. Without a doubt, the differences between the samurai and the knight overshadow the similarities.

In the system that Tokugawa Ieyasu created, however, the emperor was simply a figurehead having no political authority (class notes). Japan, ruled by combatants, was under military law which was imposed by a standing army. The daimyo were given a specific area and they often hired samurai to maintain order and collect revenue needed to feed and train their troops. On condition

Unlike the Europeans they did not have much political control but were very wealthy.After a while the nobles took over and there were no more emperors.The Shogun which had the most political control and became the ruler of Japan. The Shoguns also had control over the army of Japan.The Shoguns were considered the vassals to the Emperors. The different rulers for both European and Japanese Feudalism were similar and had many rules and regulations that they had to follow.

Each strove to maintain a centralized government. For Japan the leader was to be called an emperor or empress who could only be a part of the royal family if they were related to the Shinto sun goddess. As for Europe, the leader was to be called a king or a queen. Like Japan, not just anybody could become royalty. Kings and queens came from a long descent of an Imperial family. Tradition was that the first born son of the king would become the next ruler following the kings death. However, if no legitimate son were born then the daughter would become queen. In Europe, the royal family and institution was usually

For Japan and Europe, it was a time of trouble…Document “In the late 400’s both Europe and Japan created a feudal system in order to keep peace in the land. Lords acquired large estates of land. They granted some of their lands to lesser nobles, whom promised to fight when conflicts arose.” Background Essay DBQ. So where the similarities greater, or were the differences greater? The samurai and knights were more similar than different in three broad areas, social position, training and armor and the code of honor.

Both Japan and Western Europe practiced feudalism and they were both unusually successful in industrial development. They are both also proven adept at running capitalist economies, so the political accomplishments of both Japan and Western Europe have matched their economic achievements.

Have you ever completed a puzzle? Medieval Japan and Europe were really two giant puzzles. Both of the puzzles were solved using the same cheat sheet called feudalism, Japan puzzle was solved in late 1100s’ by the first shogun, Minamoto. In Europe the Pope solved the puzzle using the feudalism cheat sheet some time before the Minimoto solved the puzzle, to better control over Europe. Each developed a warrior class that was new to the world, Europe developed the knight while, Japan created the Samurai. So were the similarities greater than the differences??? We will explore this question in three categories Social Position, Training and Armor and Honor and Death.

The 11th and 12th century was a very difficult time for Europe and Japan. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe was in trouble. Decline in population, a reduction in construction, and smaller amounts of food were only some of the negative effects. In Japan, the emperor was weakening and daimyos were rising to power. Because of these hard times, both Europe and Japan created a system. In this new feudal system, Europe and Japan each had their version of a warrior. In Japan, the warriors were called samurai, and in Europe the warriors were called knights. Surprisingly, there were extremely similar elements when it came to the two fighters. But we’re the similarities greater than the differences?

There are many similarities between the Samurai of medieval Japan and the Knights of medieval Europe, especially considering their training,armor, and codes. For example document A and B discuss the Training about the knights and armor. The first similarity is that they both started their training when they were young and also, they were spiritual. A couple of the Samurais differences is that they wrote poetry secretly and, “became Samurai in a ceremony called genpuku live according to Bushido.”The Knights differences in is that, “pages become squire at age 14 and, Squires become knights at age 21.” Another similarity in document C and D is their Armor Their armor was real heavy and they both wore helmets. Although, Samurai used iron and knights

Japan was more concerned about keeping order. This helps prove that the differences between European and Japanese feudalism made limited government more likely to develop in the West because order is should be the main priority of a government. “There are also reports [of] vagabonds from gangs[,] [who] treat villages as if they were their own possessions.”7 This helps prove that Japan was more concerned about keeping order because Japan doesn't want people who wander around from place to place causing disorder. With these vagabonds all around the streets, Japan would be very disastrous. “When a newly appointed governor travels to....[where] he is assigned, some of his entourage and other followers either rob things from other [people] or engage in quarrels[.]”8 This helps prove Japan was more concerned about keeping order because if the government is the one who is causing the crimes, it would give people the idea that it is OK to do it also, which may cause an increase in crimes and violence. The governor's entourage is supposed to be keeping order but they are the ones who are robbing people and also causing commotions with others. The government is being a bad role model. They are supposed to set a good example but now,

China and Japan had similar but different experiences with the Western civilization. China and Japan reacted differently to the Western nations and it was China’s reactions to the West that would break the Chinese’s isolation leaving their traditions behind. The Industrial trade in Europe and the United States had created a gap between Asia and the West, This left china and Japan far behind technologically and they were not able to stand up against the western nations and although at different times China and Japan both ended up having to sign unequal treaties, and to open their ports for merchants.

Westernization, which primarily spread in the mid to late 19th century, brought forth a profound change of ideas and cultures across the world. Both Japan and India were affected greatly as Western practices and ideologies seeped into the minds of individuals throughout various societies. Influential individuals, such as Thomas Babington Macaulay and Fukuzawa Yukichi wished to reform India and Japan by introducing Western ideas into these countries. Artists such as Honda Kinkachiro and Werner Forman showed the effects of Westernization on Japan. Through the writings and artwork of Macaulay, Yukichi, Kinkachiro, and Forman, we are able to understand that Europe’s colonizing mentality, as well as Asia’s acceptance of new ideas, were both supported by the belief that the West is superior.

The culture of a place is an integral part of its society whether that place is a remote Indian village in Brazil or a highly industrialized city in Western Europe. The culture of Japan fascinates people in the United States because, at first glance, it seems so different. Everything that characterizes the United States--newness, racial heterogeneity, vast territory, informality, and an ethic of individualism-- is absent in Japan. There, one finds an ancient and homogeneous society, an ethic that emphasizes the importance of groups, and a tradition of formal behavior governing every aspect of daily living, from drinking tea to saying hello. On the surface at least, U.S. and Japanese