ANTH 2230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Meiji Restoration, Meiji Period, Meiji Constitution
17 Mar 2015
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Document Summary
Political system during edo/tokugawa period: members of ruling class samurai, edo shogunate governmental system, emperor still existed with lessened power diarchy. Shogunate control over feudal lords: land divided into shogunate territories and domains governed by feudal lords. Shogunate had lots of power, but still couldn"t completely control feudal lords. Population by status 1868: nobility/aristocrats - . 01, warriors 6. 5% (rice very important, samurai paid in rice, commoners 90. 5% Priests 1. 25: peasants and farmers 80-85, artisans and merchants 5-10, untouchables 1. 7% Isolation policy to regulate flow of people/goods/ideas in and out of country: there were political, economic, and social problems in 19th century japan, threat of colonialism, arrival of black ships large steam ships demanding ports be open. Japan already faced problems financial difficulties, underemployment. The defeat of the edo shogunate: main actors low rank warriors, low rank warriors went to imperial court, attempted to restore emperor"s power, yedo edo - tokyo.
