<span>The
Japanese government declined in the A.D. 800s because a number of weak
emperors came to the throne. Powerful nobles than began to gain control
of land. Nobles began collecting more taxes from the peasants working
the land. Nobles formed private armies. The shogun commanded the emperor's military
government. The mongols attacked Japan twice, but the attackers were
defeated because of violent pacific storms smashed many of their ships.</span>
