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May 7, 1450
Warring States in Japan
The Warring States period in Japan was a time of social , political and military conflicts that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. This was a very important in Japan because they started to have a social heirarchy. Triggered by natural disasters and famines, armed uprisings by farmers who were weary of debt and taxes were ocuring more and more during this time period. -
The Battle of Sekigahara
This battle was the culmination of the Sekigahara Campaign and the defeat of the ‘Western Army’. The battle was fought around the small village of Sekigahara. It was a strategically important point, the choice of the battle field had been inadvertant. Ishida Mitsunari had hoped to meet Ieyasu somewhere further east. The Battle of Sekigahara represented the last battle of generations of bitter civil warfare in Japan -
Tokugawa Iemitsu becomes shogun
In 1603 the emperor granted Ieyasu the title of shôgun, an honor helped along by his 'Minamoto' genealogy. He held this post for only two years before officially retiring in favor of his son Hidetada. Retreating to Sumpu in Suruga province, he supervised the expansion of Edo Castle and the expansion of the surrounding town over the next few years, and conducted business with the Dutch and Spanish, with whom he distanced Japan. -
The Samuria Warriors
The Samuri was a elite warrior class in fuedal Japan. they became the ruling military class that eventually became the highest ranking social caste of the Edo Period. Samurais had many weapons such as bows and arrows, spears and guns, but their main weapon and symbol was the sword. This was a larger warrior class which helped keep order in Japan during troubling times. -
Tokugawa Ieyasu dies
Officially Ieyasu handed his title as Shogun down to his son in 1605, beginning the Tokugawa family dynasty which was to hold strong for 250 years. But until his death in 1616 he remained an active force in consolidating and strengthening Japan with his family. Ieyasu fell ill and died in bed. Unlike Hideyoshi, he could pass away secure in the future of his house. Ieyasu truly made an impact on Japan unifying and controlling Japan in ways that helped in improving it over the years. -
Shogun Iemitsu forbade traveling abroad isolating Japan
When the major ports connecting Japan to the world were closed, Japan was isolated from the rest of the world. They had very limited contact and chosing particular groups and empires in which they trade with. Japan kept the foreign powers completely out for well over 200 years, until the 1850's; Japan's native culture and pride remained intact. -
Shimabra uprising mounted by overtaxed peasants
The Shimabara Rebellion was a peasant revolt against Matsukura Katsuie of the Shimabara Domain and Terasawa Katataka of the Karatsu Domain.To finance public projects, Matsukura levied heavy taxes on his people. These policies were continued by his son, Matsukura Katsuieent. After the battle, being unsuccessful, the rebels scattered and those that were caught by the shogunate troops were executed. -
All foreign books were banned
After the destruction of the Toyotomi clan in 1615 when Ieyasu captured Osaka Castle, he and his successors had practically no rivals anymore, and peace prevailed throughout the Edo period. Therefore, the warriors (samurai) were educating themselves not only in the martial arts but also in literature, philosophy and the arts, e.g. the tea ceremony. The most important philosophy of Tokugawa Japan was Neo-Confucianism, stressing the importance of morals, education and hierarchical order. -
Mereki fire kills more 100,000 people in Edo
The fire broke out on the January 18, in the Hongo district near the center of Edo. There are various legends about how the fire was started, but since it was a very cold winter's day and the north wind was blowing strongly through the city.The fire began to spread quickly and killed many in the city. The flames raged through the night, and most of the people who died in the blaze perished on that first day. -
Beginning of the Genoku Period
Genroku period, in Japanese history, era from 1688 to 1704, characterized by a rapidly expanding commercial economy and the development of a vibrant urban culture centred in the cities of Kyōto, Ōsaka, and Edo The Genroku period set the standards for an urban culture that continued to flourish throughout the Tokugawa period.
