Feudalism in Japan and W. Europe
At a time when their governments could not sustain a stable centralized power, Japan and Western Europe both adapted their governments to fit their needs and adopted the feudal system. Although, the reasons why these two areas turned to feudalism are different, both societies had many centuries of this similar type of government. European feudalism was influenced most likely by the fall of the Roman empire and Germanic tribes (and other external forces) who had tried to invade them. Japan, on the other hand, adopted the system to settle internal disputes in the country and to split up the land between the nobility; Japanese feudalism developed because of internal attacks by groups of uncontrolled armies and had a more military aspect. Japan would later discover that the structure of having smaller feudal systems was bad for their economy. However, both Japan and Western Europe formed feudalistic societies to provide protection and stability for everyone.
Japanese and Western European societies were able to embrace feudalism because both economies were dominantly agricultural. The only difference was in Japan, a human work force toiled the land, which slowed their production. This was not the case in Western Europe, where cows and oxen were used to work the land instead. As a result, Europe was able to increase the amount of land under cultivation. This brought more money in and built the economy considerably well. Furthermore, Japan’s location made is hard for them to trade with anyone except China, who had access to the Silk Roads. This was not the case for Western Europe, where there were many trading partners nearby. All things considered, merchants were not significant in the feudal system; being neither landowners nor peasants. They didn’t have a place in society, and weren’t seen as intellectually inclined.
Feudal Japanese and European societies were both built on a system of hereditary classes. This type of system requires and depends on every class in
Japanese and Western European societies were able to embrace feudalism because both economies were dominantly agricultural. The only difference was in Japan, a human work force toiled the land, which slowed their production. This was not the case in Western Europe, where cows and oxen were used to work the land instead. As a result, Europe was able to increase the amount of land under cultivation. This brought more money in and built the economy considerably well. Furthermore, Japan’s location made is hard for them to trade with anyone except China, who had access to the Silk Roads. This was not the case for Western Europe, where there were many trading partners nearby. All things considered, merchants were not significant in the feudal system; being neither landowners nor peasants. They didn’t have a place in society, and weren’t seen as intellectually inclined.
Feudal Japanese and European societies were both built on a system of hereditary classes. This type of system requires and depends on every class in