In a way that was very similar to European feudalism, feudal Japan was built around land, loyalty, and powerful military leaders. In Japan, regional lords called Daimyōs ruled territories, built castles, and commanded armies. Above them was the Shogun, a supreme military dictator who held actual power over the Emperor. Notable historical leaders included shoguns like Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199 CE) and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616 CE), as well as powerful Daimyōs like Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582). European feudalism lasted roughly from 500 CE to 1500 CE, while Japanese feudalism spanned from around 1185 CE to 1868 CE. In both regions, peasant farmers worked the land under the protection of wealthy landowning lords. While European Lords depended on Knights for defense, Japanese Daimyōs relied on loyal Samurai Warriors.
Here is a FREE BELL RINGER to use in class as a printable or to upload to Google Classroom, Schoology, etc…
Click Here: Bell Ringer Feudalism in Europe and Japan