Japan's geography
What is an archipelago?
A group of islands.
Which social class made up approximately 90% of Japan's population?
Peasants.
What was the name of Japan's warrior class?
Samurai.
Which historical period was known for its achievements in art, poetry and literature?
The Heian Period.
Which historical period came first: Heian or Kamakura?
Heian
What is the largest of Japan's four main islands?
Honshu
What was the main role of merchants in Japanese society?
Buying and selling goods to make money.
What was the name of the code of behaviour followed by Samurai?
Bushido
In which city was Japan's capital located during the Heian Period?
Heian-kyō (modern-day Kyoto).
In what year did the Heian Period begin?
794 CE.
What famous mountain and volcano is located in Japan?
Mount Fuji.
Name three types of skilled workers who belonged to the artisan class.
Blacksmiths, potters, carpenters or weavers (any three).
What was a Samurai without a master called?
Ronin
What two powerful clans fought a civil war towards the end of the Heian Period?
The Minamoto and Taira clans.
What famous novel was written by Murasaki Shikibu around 1008 CE?
The Tale of Genji.
Name Japan's four main islands.
Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku.
Why was rice considered valuable in Japanese society? Give two reasons.
It was used as food, to pay taxes and to measure wealth (any two).
Name three values associated with Bushido.
Loyalty, honour, courage, respect or discipline (any three).
What happened in 1185 CE that helped bring the Heian Period to an end?
The Minamoto clan defeated the Taira clan in a civil war.
Who was the leader of the Minamoto clan who became Japan's first Shogun?
Minamoto no Yoritomo.
Explain why Japan's mountainous landscape affected where people settled and farmed.
Mountains limited flat land, so people settled and farmed on plains and coastal areas.
Explain why peasants were considered more important than merchants, despite often being poorer.
Peasants produced essential food for society, while merchants made money by buying and selling goods rather than producing them.
What was Seppuku, and why might a Samurai have been expected to perform it?
Ritual suicide, traditionally performed to restore honour after defeat, capture or disgrace.
What happened during the Kamakura Period when the Mongols attempted to invade Japan twice?
Both Mongol invasions were defeated, with storms damaging the invading fleets and Japanese warriors resisting the attacks.
Explain how political power changed between the Heian and Kamakura periods.
During the Heian Period, the Emperor and Imperial Court governed Japan. Over time, military leaders gained power. During the Kamakura Period, the Shogun controlled the military government, while the Emperor had limited political power.