TASK: What are the differences and similarities in the lives and the way in which the society worked of those who lived in Medieval Europe to that of those who lived in Medieval Japan?
Weapons and Army
Other differences and similarities between Medieval Europe and Shogunate Japan were those that lay between their use and choice of armour and weaponry, and in general their armies.
Both the medieval European knights and the Japanese samurai used horses as means of transport into battle. They also both wore armour and used swords. European armour was typically all-metal and was made or either chain mail or plate metal. Whilst this made them more protected, it also restricted their movement. In contrast, the Japanese samurais donned armour which comprised of lacquered leather or metal plates with silk or metal bindings. This light weight armour was advantageous in that it allowed the samurai to be quick and more agile. The drawback to this armour though was that it provided much less protection.
In Europe, the lords would build castles out of stone to protect themselves whilst the Japanese lords, known as Daimyo, built castles out of wood rather than stone.
Feudalism
A key similarity between Medieval Europe and Shogunate Japan was the fact that both had an established feudal system. While it was established earlier in Europe (around 800s CE), Japan established their feudal system at the close of the Heian Period and the rise of the Kamakura Shogunate (around the 1100s).
The first reason why the differences are greater than the similarities is because of the social order in feudal Japan and Europe. ”Historians and other scholars use social pyramids to show how societies were structured” (Document A). The samurai owned loyalty and military service to daimyo 's for land or regular payment while on the other hand knights owned loyalty and military service to the lords. Another difference about samurais and knights was the population. Samurai with families took about 10% of Japan 's population and in Europe, there was estimated 12,000 knights in England and Normany France in the 12th century. One more difference is that there are four people above the knight in the social order but only three for samurai.
It is surprising that the feudal system in Japan is similar to the feudalism in Europe because during feudal Japan, it was isolated from the rest of the world until later on, which meant that Japan was not influenced by the European feudal system. Both feudal systems were developed as a response to the need of security and
Likewise, knights wore “complete suits of plate armor, constructed from metal...wore helmets, gloves, and shoes of steel...a knight’s armor could weigh 40 to 60 pounds.” (Document D) Both samurais and European knights were protected by a heavy armor out of metal in battle; it can be inferred that both Japan and Europe found importance in protecting their warriors looking from the stringency of armor and protection. The reason for protecting their warriors would be due to the myriad of battles feudal Japan and Europe would have had to carry out. To ensure success in battle, they would’ve made further technological advances such as protective armor, ensuring better performance when battling. By protecting the warriors using this effective armor, both Japan and Europe would’ve been able to attain more as a whole and advance as a civilization - a common achievement carried out as well. Despite the many differences between Japanese samurais and European knights, the similarities outweighed these differences due to the homologous elements in their position in hierarchy and the use of protective armor in battle, leading to the success in both Japan and
Greetings from Medieval Japan! I am here to express some of my adventures and experiences that I have been through while visiting. I have figured out why Japan is so isolated! Turns out it’s an island, crazy right? Japan had to develop allies in the past due to their isolation issues. China had a very important role in the influencing of medieval japan. Some of the ways it influenced japan was by its religion and writing abilities. While Japan adopted the religion of Buddhism because of its influence of the Chinese, it also adopted the writing system known was ideographic. While in need of a stable government Japan also adopted Chinese politics.
Warfare has largely been considered to be a significant influence of state development. This paper argues that warfare affected the development of the medieval Japanese state by creating and sustaining a hierarchy of powerful elites that would later form the basis of medieval Japanese statehood which was largely based on relationship to the top of the hierarchy, preservation of peace, loyalty and defence against external aggressors. It will start with a discussion of armed conflict and power, the importance of arms and wars of conflict for the ruling elite, resistance against centralized power and imperial intervention against war and conflict which led to the emergence of a state government. The paper will also capture the ways
One way they were similar was their social positions. They had very similar social pyramids which were pyramids that show the top of the people in the kingdom to the lowest, the knight was at the third spot on Europe's social pyramid while the samurai was at the fourth
Both medieval Japan and Europe were majorly developed countries in their era. They had amazing architecture to design castles, fearsome weapons and a mass army but with all these features which one was safer? Before gathering any knowledge I produced a hypothesis on my thought about the previous question. My hypothesis
“Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace,”(12 famous Confucius quotes on education and learning, 1). This quote is a good representation of the benefits of education. In medieval Japan, education started to take center stage. First, this essay will focus on why education was needed at that time. Second, it will state how it transformed over many centuries. Finally, it will provide information of education’s impact on society. Without the help of education, people would not have been able to progress in many ways.
Japanese and the west European region has two different cultures, including how they rule their land. However, Japanese feudalism in 1185-1333 and west European feudalism in the 8th century to the 12th century, they both had similar societies built on class hierarchy, with different philosophies and morals, and different religions influencing the way they rule. Hence, showing that the two regions in two different periods have many similarities with some differences that make them their own.
During feudalism, knights were the European warriors in warfare, they wore armor made of chainmail or solid metal and fought on horseback. Japanese warriors were
Yes, everyone knows that Europe and Japan have many differences but did you know that they also have many similarities such as strong religions and stable economies. Without both of their strong religions and economies, things might not be the same as they are today.
Now this is probably my favorite subject in this essay because I have some experience with their weapons. They both are commonly known for using swords well they both do but that's not all they use. Solet me tell you a few of them well the samurai use masses, bows, ninja stars, them selfs by using martial arts, and of course their swords. Some of you may not know but the samurai use one long curved sword mainly
Traditionally, there are various areas in Japan that reflect feudalism. Note that feudalism refers to the system of government that existed in medieval Japan where there were noble families, military servants, and peasants (Duus, 4). Members of noble families held land and peasants worked for them in exchange of military protection. All governing and administrative powers concentrated on nobles. They were treated as lords and exercised absolute authority on their subjects. Peasants used to live in the land belonging to these lords, provide them with labor and other services including a share of the farm’s produce (Karl, 183). People related on the basis of lordship and vassalage depending on the social class one belonged. Feudalism prevailed
In England it was the knights who wore special armour made of a leather-covered wood material. Both the samurai and knight fought in battles for the king/emperor and established rules made by the king or pope in England but emperor in Japan. The samurai and the knights were thought of highly as they protected the land that the king/emperor owned.
They evolved from the wooden fortress of earlier centuries to their best-known form in the 16th century. Castles in Japan were built to guard significant or strategic sites, such as ports, river crossings, or crossroads. They almost always incorporated the landscape into their defenses as well.