Feudal Japan

In this episode of our season-long “Modern World” tour, we’ll explore Feudal Japan, where powerful landowning families and legendary samurai shaped centuries of political conflict and cultural tradition. Discover how Japan’s geography influenced its economy and society, how the rise of daimyos and shoguns transformed the balance of power while emperors became figureheads, and how cultural diffusion from China and Korea introduced ideas like Buddhism and written language. From the code of the samurai and the struggles for control of Japan to the nation’s long period of isolation and eventual reopening to the outside world, we’ll uncover the institutions, traditions, and lasting legacy of one of history’s most fascinating civilizations.