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Emperor’s court moves from Nara to Heian-kyo (modern-day Kyoto).
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Kyomizu-dera (Pure Water Temple) is constructed.
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Genpei War
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Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes shogun and puts Japan under military control.
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Noble Fujiwara family at the height of its political power. Flowering of art and literature, especially poetry. Use of phonetic kana scripts. Rise of samurai military class. The Pillow Book is written by Sei Shonagon. The Tale of Genji is written by Murasaki Shikibu.
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Great Buddha statue is installed at Kamakura.
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Unsuccessful attempts by Mongol armies to invade Japan.
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Japan under military control of the Ashikaga shoguns.
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Onin War
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Age of the warring states.
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Francis Xavier introduces Christianity to Japan.
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Toyotomi Hideyoshi persecutes Christians. Increase in foreign trade.
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Battle of Sekigahara 1397 Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) is built.
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Japan under military control of the Tokugawa shoguns. Christians persecuted.
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Genroku period brings a flourishing of urban culture. Shi-no-ko-sho organisation of society Policy of national seclusion isolates Japan from the rest of the world. Edo is the largest city in the world.
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Commodore Perry first visits from the US.
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The Tokugawa shogunate is overthrown. Emperor Meiji is restored to power.
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Boshin War