Japanese Feudalism Dbq Analysis

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Throughout Europe and Japan during the middle ages both adopted the governmental system of feudalism. Europe adopted the feudal system when Rome fell, and Japan adopted the feudal system when the Han dynasty fell. They both adopted the feudal system to fill the need for a governmental system when both previous empire fell. Though Japan and Europe both adopted the feudal system they both had their own versions of the feudal system. Feudal Europe and Japan had contrasting hierarchy structures, army types (builds, training, and roles), and their armies belief systems or codes were different. The following is a compilation of the two countries, and their versions of the feudal system. Feudal Japan and feudal Europe had contrasting social hierarchies. Feudal Europe’s hierarchy was based on religion and wealth, whereas feudal Japan’s hierarchy was based on military and necessities (Doc A). Lords in Japan were not a …show more content…

Japan’s army followed the code of bushido, and Europe’s army had the code of chivalry (Doc E). Bushido was a code in which the samurais would devote their entire lives to serving their masters (Doc E). Samurais who followed the code of bushido would live life according to the Way, and punishing those who did not live their life working towards the way (Doc E). Samurais believed in the Way and the balance that it depicts (Doc F). Chivalry on the other hand was a code by which the European knights would follow (Doc E). Chivalry was a code where knights would vow to do no wrong, be loyal to the King, to give mercy to those who ask for it, and to be courteous and helpful to women (Doc E). Knights beliefs were also very religion centered, as shown in The Son of Roland “God, I acknowledge my guilt and I beg for Thy mercy for all the sins, greater and lesser, which I have committed from the hour my birth until this day … Angels descend out of heaven and come to him” (Doc