The Political System
- Japan became a modern country from the days of petty daimyo of Japan.
- In the twelfth century, the imperial court lost power to shoguns, who in theory ruled in the name of the emperor with the help of samurais (the warrior class) and daimyo with their capital in Edo (modern Tokyo).
- In the sixteenth century, Samurai ensured peace and order.
- In the late sixteenth century, three changes laid the pattern for future development.
- One, the peasantry was disarmed and only the samurai could carry swords. This ensured peace and order, ending the frequent wars of the previous century.
- Two, the daimyo were ordered to live in the capitals of their domains, each with a large degree of autonomy.
- Third, land surveys identified owners and taxpayers and graded land productivity to ensure a stable revenue base.
- Japan was divided into more than 250 domains under the rule of lords called daimyo.
- By the mid-seventeenth century, Japan had the most populated city in the world – Edo – but also had two other large cities – Osaka and Kyoto.
- The growth of a commercial economy and a vibrant culture blossomed in the towns, where the fast-growing class of merchants patronised theatre and the arts.
- Increased use of money and the creation of a stock market led the economy in new ways.
- Social and intellectual changes that took place – such as the study of ancient Japanese literature – led people to question the degree of Chinese influence and the study of ancient Japanese literature.
Paths to Modernisation: Japan Class 11 History Notes
Japan is a string of islands the four largest being Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido. The Okinawan chain is the southernmost, about the same latitude as the Bahamas.
More than 50 percent of the land area of the main islands is mountainous and Japan is situated in a very active earthquake zone. Japan succeeded in remaining free of colonial control and achieved fairly rapid economic and industrial progress throughout the twentieth century.
In this article, You will get to know about The Political System in Japan, the Meiji Restoration, the Meiji Reforms, the Remerging of Japan as a Global Economic Power, and much more about the Path to Modernisation of Japan.
Paths to Modernisation: Japan Class 11 History Notes