Feudalism in Europe and events during the Muromachi period
in Japan share some characteristics. During the Muromachi period in Japan,
there were powerful feudal lords called Daimyos who were only subordinate to
the Shogun (think of them as Commander-in-Chief) and the Japanese Emperor).
Daimyos were almost independent and ruled with almost absolute power on their
territories. Daimyos are the equivalent of Lords in Europe. Daimyos hired
Samurai, a noble class of warriors, and paid them with rice or land, just as lords
hire vassals and gave them land holdings (fiefs) in exchange for allegiance. In
this obligations, Lords/Daimyos gained solders and supplies, while Vassals/Samurai
gained land holdings and farms.
Land was flat close to the coastline but became hilly and mountainous farther inland. Soil was generally rocky, making farming difficult. Cold winters reduced the spread of disease.
