Timeline of Japanese History HistoryJomon period: Before 300
BCThe early Japanese were hunters, gatherers, and fishers.
Yayoi period: 300 BC – 300 ADIntroduction of rice agriculture and the unifying of small countries into larger countries.
Kofun period: 300 – 538 AD.
Japan for the first time is more or less unified. Larger tombs are built for deceased leaders (Kofuns)
Asuka period: 538 –710 AD.
538 – 552 introduction
of Buddhism.
604 – Prince Shotoku’s
Constitution of 17
articles is written
PRINCE SHOTOKU
Nara period: 710 – 784 AD
710 -Nara becomes the first permanent capital.
784- The capital moves to Nagaoka.
Heian period: 794 – 1185 AD
794- The capital moves to Heian (Kyoto).
838-Official contact with China stops1016- Fujiwara Michinaga becomes
regent.1159-The Taira clan takes control
after the Heiji War and becomes the most powerful clan in Medieval Japan.
1180-85 The Minamoto clan ends the reign of the Taira clan after the Gempei Wars
Kamakura period: 1192 – 1333 AD.
1191 – The Zen sect is introduced (from China) stressingmeditation and spiritual strength.
1192- Minamoto Yoritomo is appointed shogun and establishes the Kamakura government
1232- A legal code is introduced.1274 and 1281- The Mongols try to
invade Japan but fail because of a great storm (divine wind -“Kamikaze”).
1333 – The Kamakura government falls
Muromachi period: 1338-1573 AD
1338 After continued civil war Takauji establishes the Muromachi government and a second emperor in Kyoto
1392-Unification of the Northern and Southern courts
1467-1477 Onin War (great civil war)Sengoku Jidai (Era of “Country at War”)
1542- Portuguese traders introduce firearms
1568- Oda Nobunaga enters Kyoto as new leader.
Azuchi-Momoyama period: 1573-1603 AD
1575 – The Takeda clan is defeated in the battle of Nagashino
1582-Nobunaga is murdered and succeeded by Toyotmi Hideyoshi –foundation of modern nation of Japan formed
1588-The “sword hunt” ends when Hideyoshi takes away the weapons of religious institutions and farmers increasing the power of a central government.
ODAWARA CASTLE
1590- Japan is reunified after the fall of Odawara (Hojo)
1592-98 –Japanese unsuccessful invasion of Korea
1600-Tokugawa Ieyasu defeats his rivals in the Battle of Sekigahara
Edo period: 1603-1867 AD
1603- Ieyasu is appointed shogun and establishes the Tokugawa government in Edo (Tokyo).
1614- Ieyasu intensifies the persecution of Christians yet establishes trade relations with the English and Dutch
1615- The Toyotomi clan is destroyed after Ieyasu captures Osaka Castle.
OSAKA CASTLE
1639-Japan isolates itself from the world. Only the port of Nagasaki open to trade. Japanese couldn’t travel outside of Japan.
1792-The Russians try to establish relations with Japan but fail.
1854- U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry forces the Japanese government to open a limited number of trade ports and trade relations with the United States.
MATTHEW PERRY
Meiji period: 1868-1912 AD
1868- The Meiji restoration. Meiji means “enlightened rule” and this era saw the modernization of Japan following western ways. Emphasis in building a strong military/navy with the help of the British
1872- First railway line established between Tokyo and Yokohama
1889 The Meiji Constitution is written
1894-95 Sino (Chinese)-Japanese War (Japanese victory)
1904-05 Russian-Japanese War (Japan defeats Russia, Korea is under the control of Japan)
1910-Annexation of Korea
1912- Death of Emperor Meiji
Japan’s modernization
The Russian fleet is destroyed 1905
Taisho period: 1912-1926
1914-1918 Japan joins allied forces (Great Britain, France, United States) in World War I
1923 The Great Kanto Earthquake destroys Tokyo and Yokohama
GREAT KANTO EARTHQUAKE
Showa period: 1926-1989 AD
1931- Manchurian incident – Japan and China prepare for
war against each other.1937-Second China-Japanese
War starts and the Japanese invade China controlling most of Manchuria.
1941-Attack on Pearl Harbor Japan enters into war against the Americans and British.
1945- Japan surrenders after two atomic bombs destroy the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. World War II leaves Japan in ruins.
Pearl Harbor under attack
Destruction of Hiroshima
1946- Japan forms a new government under a new Constitution. The emperor loses all political and military power. With American support, Korea gains independence from Japan.
1952- The Allied Occupation of Japan ends yet American soldiers remain stationed on American bases.
1956- Japan becomes a member of the United Nations.
Japanese surrendered aboard the American battle ship Missouri
Japan joins the United Nations in an attempt to end future wars
Heisei period: 1989 –1995- The Hanshin
earthquake hits Kobe2002 – Japan / Korea host
the FIFA World Cup2011 – Massive earthquake
hits Northern Japan followed by a destructive Tsunami.
1964- Olympic games held in Tokyo
1960 - 1970’s – Japanese economic boom
1972- Japan and China normalize relations.