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.