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Period: 710 to 794
Nara period
The Nara period was the period in which the imperial government was at Nara. Nara was the country’s first permanent capital it was modeled on the Chinese T’ang dynasty. -
794
Emperor Kammu set up his capital in Heiankyo
Emperor Kammu was one of the strongest rulers Japan had ever had. He moved the government 48km north to Nagaoka-kyo. Ten years later the work at the new capital was stopped, because it was told to be haunted by the spirit of Kammu's brother, who starved to death after he was banished. So another new capital was built nearby, which in later years became known as Kyoto. -
Period: 794 to 1185
Heian Period
Heian means peace and tranquility. During this time the emperors controlled the government, and the emperor Kammu established the new capital of Kyoto. This was a period of great art, poetry and writing. This period was significantly influenced from China, including Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. -
Period: 1185 to 1333
Kamakura Period
The Kamakura period was the beginning of military ruling, and also the time the Minamoto clan established control and Minamoto Yoritomo became the Shogun. The new capital at Kamakura was where the Minamoto clan was centred. Also the Japanese defended the country successfully against two invasion attempt by two invasion attempts by Kublai Khan the Mongol ruler. -
1192
Yoritomo became the first Shogun
Minamoto Yoritomo started the bakufu, or Shogunate, system where the lords ruled Japan for 700 years. In 1192 he became the shogun and then died in 1199. -
Period: 1333 to 1336
Kenmu Restoration
This was an attempted restoration of the imperial rule by emperor Go-Daigo but it was unsuccessful in the end. -
Period: 1336 to
Ashikaga Period
The shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu had restored the military government in Kyoto where the emperor stayed and continued to live. The Shoguns power became weak as the local clan lords expanded. Constant wars occurred because the Daimyo competed with each other for more power and the position of Shogun. This was also the time were the first contact with European explorers happened. -
1543
Portuguese sailors became the first Europeans to reach Japan
The first three Europeans to arrive in Japan in 1543 were Portuguese traders. They arrived at the southern end of Tanegashima, where they introduced firearms to the local people. -
Japan tried to take over Korea
Japan made two invasions on Korea, in 1952 and 1956, they started a war that lasted until 1958. Kampaku Toyotomi Hideyoshi led Japan into both these invasions with a goal of conquering the Ming Dynasty China. -
The Tokugawa family of Shoguns took control of the government
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the Tokugawa bakufu and the Edo bakufu was the last Japanese military government. The head of government was the shogun, and each was a member of the Tokugawa clan. -
Period: to
Tokugawa Period
This was the first time Japan united, a strong military Shogun, Tokugawa leyasu lead this. There was a new capital established at Edo now known as Tokyo. This was a period of peace, innovation etc. This was also the time Christianity was banned and no foreigners were aloud in, and the Japanese were not aloud to leave Japan. -
The government forced all Europeans to leave Japan
Japan forced all foreigners to leave the country, Japans policy of isolation lasted for 200 years, Japanese citizens were not aloud to leave Japan. -
Matthew C. Perry of the U.S went to Japan and opened two areas to the U.S trade.
Matthew C. Perry went on an expedition that made Japan enter into trade with the west after two hundred years of isolation. -
Emperor Meiji regained his power from the shogun.
Emperor Meiji was the 122nd emperor of Japan. He rained over a time of change in Japan, as the nation quickly changed from isolation to imperial world power.
