Prehistoric and Ancient Japan
- Paleolithic Period (ca. 38,000 BCE–ca. 14,000 BCE): The first human inhabitants arrived on the Japanese archipelago, primarily through land bridges connected to the Asian mainland. They lived as hunter-gatherers.
- Jōmon Period (ca. 14,000 BCE–ca. 300 BCE): This era is known for its sophisticated semi-sedentary hunter-gatherer culture and some of the world's oldest pottery, characterized by distinctive "cord-marked" designs.
- Yayoi Period (ca. 300 BCE–ca. 250 CE): Immigrants from the Asian continent introduced key innovations such as wet-rice farming, metalworking (bronze and iron), and new pottery styles. Small kingdoms began to form, and Japan was first mentioned in Chinese historical texts as "Wa".
- Kofun Period (ca. 250–538 CE): Japan began to unify under a single, centralized government centered in the Yamato plain. This period is named after the large, keyhole-shaped burial mounds (kofun) constructed for the ruling elite. The imperial dynasty established during this time continues to this day.
- Asuka and Nara Periods (ca. 538–794 CE): Chinese writing systems, Buddhism, and a centralized, Chinese-style administrative structure were adopted and adapted. The Nara period saw the creation of Japan's first major literary works, the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki.
- Heian Period (794–1185): The imperial capital moved to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto), marking a golden age of classical Japanese culture, art, and literature. Power began shifting away from the Emperor to powerful aristocratic clans and the rising military class (samurai).
Feudal Japan
- Kamakura Period (1185–1333): After the Genpei War, Minamoto no Yoritomo established a military government (bakufu, or shogunate) in Kamakura, with the shogun holding actual power while the Emperor remained a ceremonial figurehead. The samurai class became the ruling elite.
- Muromachi and Sengoku Periods (1336–1600): The Ashikaga shogunate struggled to maintain control, leading to the century-long Sengoku ("Warring States") period of intense civil war among feudal warlords (daimyō). Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries arrived in the 16th century, introducing firearms and Christianity.
- Edo Period (1603–1868): Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan after the Battle of Sekigahara and established the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo (modern Tokyo). The shogunate enforced a strict social hierarchy and an isolationist sakoku ("closed country") policy for over 250 years, fostering a period of internal peace, economic growth, and unique cultural development.
Modern Japan
- Meiji Restoration and Empire (1868–1945): In 1853, the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry's American fleet forced Japan to open to the West, leading to the collapse of the shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule. The Meiji government rapidly pursued Western-style industrialization, modernization, and militarization, transforming Japan into an imperial world power and annexing territories like Korea and Taiwan.
- World War II and Occupation (1941–1952): Japan entered World War II as an Axis power, culminating in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 and an unconditional surrender. The subsequent Allied occupation, led by the United States, saw Japan adopt a new pacifist, democratic constitution in 1947.
- Post-War Period (1952–Present): After the occupation ended, Japan experienced rapid economic growth, becoming one of the world's largest economies. It is now a constitutional monarchy known for its advanced technology, pacifist stance, and significant global cultural influence.
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