Panese Feudal System
Just like England in Medieval times, Japan also had a feudal system. It was structured very similarly to the English setup with a few changes of names and positions. The most powerful positions in society were the Emperor, Shogun, Daimyo and Samurai. Although these 4 positions were the most powerful in Japan at the time, they made up only roughly 10% of the total population, while roughly 90% were peasants and below.
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The Emperor was looked up to by all of his people as the supreme ruler but held little political power and was seen as more of a 'puppet figure'.
The Shogun was probably the most important figure in Japanese society. He was seen as 'second in line' but did the most work. He was a military leader, so he was in charge of many of decisions to do with their armies, battles etc..
The Daimyo was a very powerful figure who served the shogun. His job control a large area of land. He was also in charge of their samurai, whom he paid to work and protect him.
The Samurai were Japanese warriors (similar to the European knight). They served and protected their Daimyo with respect. They also fought for their people and protected them, bringing justice and order to the community. Their followed a code of conduct called Bushido, meaning 'Way of the warrior' which told them how to live their lives.
Ronins were samurai warriors who had either been 'expelled' from their allegiance or their daimyo had died.
Peasants were farmers and fishermen. They were actually considered a higher class in Medieval Japan than in Medieval England because the Japanese believed that the peasants produced food, which was depended on by all classes, therefore, they worked harder.
Artisans were workers skilled in a particular trade. These included: sword-maker, dressmaker, woodblock print making etc.
Merchants were considered the lowest class in Medieval Japan unlike Medieval England. Their job was to trade/sell goods and shop-keep.
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Enlightenment Ideas
The Enlightenment was a period in Europe characterized by a new wave of social and political thinking. The Englightenment focused on 2 main ideas, humanism and individualism. Humanism encouraged people to think of life in a secular way and think about life as more than simply a precursor to the afterlife. Individualism wanted people to focus on individuals and their ideas instead of only on large groups like the government or Church.
Important Thinkers
Many people became famous for their philosophies during this time.
- John Locke - Locke believed in the social contract. This was an unwritten contract between the government and the people that stated that the government had to protect the rights of the people and that the people had to overthrow corrupt governments.
- Thomas Aquinas - He believed in natural rights, which stated that people were born with certain rights that no government could take away.
- Montesquieu - Montesquieu thought that governments should have checks and balances, so that no person could gain too much power. He thought that to do this governments should be split into 3 branches.
Long-Term Effects
To this day, many governments take ideas from the Enlightenment and apply them to modern government. For example, it was Locke who first said that everyone had the right to life, liberty, and property. This was then amended by the founding fathers to the famous quote: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Additionally, the idea of 3 branches of government can be seen in the United States. Without the Enlightenment, most democratic nations would have a completely different government. Additionally, the Enlightenment helped spread ideas of equality and would later encourage slave rebellions and women's suffrage. Also, the Enlightenment was an important step in the separation of Church and State.
Britain didn't have enough settlements to enforce the claim.
