Geography:

4. Geography: • Archipelago- chain of 4,000 Islands, 4 main islands • Mountains • Terrace Farming due to limited arable land 12% • Lack of Navigable Rivers • Located on Rim of Fire (Volcano activity common)

5. Isolation • Throughout Japanese history, Japan had stayed isolated from foreigners • Just like China

6. Early History • Small clans • Early Rulers: Yamato  never very strong but never overthrown • During middle ages, landowners became very powerful and Japan settled into its own feudal type system • Nobles (Diamyos) rise in power

7. Tokugawa Shogun

9. Bushido • Bushido • Japanese Samurai code of warrior • Similar to European Knights

10. Tokugawa= Isolate! • Shogun makes decision to keep Japan isolated from invaders!

11. End of Isolation- Perry visits Japan • During the 19th Century, The “West wanted to begin trading with China and Japan • Japan had refused as did China but in 1853, they had persuasion • 1853: US Commodore Matthew Perry

12. How would the Japanese feel about being forced to do this? • -upset at shogun • -realized they were weak • -Japan looks to new emperor Mutsuhito for pride and nationalism • -Chose name “Meji” which means enlightened ruler • “if you can’t beat the west, be the west”

13. Modernized Japan • Schools modeled after US • Army of Germany • Navy of Britain • Germany’s government • Industrialize like west 1870- 1914 • Build factories • Build railroads

14. Context: Japan, 1930 Japan suffered from economic problems. Japan was geographically small. Goals of Japan’s military leaders • expand Japan’s empire to gain more raw materials • restore Japan’s power in Asia and the world World View of Japan

15. Invasion of China • Japan invaded China’s northern region of Manchuria in 1931. • This area was rich with iron and coal. Japanese soldiers in Manchuria

16. Invasion of Nanking • Nanking was China’s capital. • Japan invaded Nanking in December 1937. Japanese Soldiers entering Nanking

17. Central Historical Question What happened during the invasion of Nanking?