Compare And Contrast The Edo Period In Japan

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The Edo period in Japan reflected tradition and peace under the rule of long reigning Tokugawa shogun dynasty. This time period was prompted when Catholic missionaries traveled from Europe and converted many Japanese individuals to Christianity. The Tokugawa Shoguns who were the leaders of Japan and they feared the outcome would demoralize Japan’s rich culture and this was the first step toward European domination. To prevent this horrible outcome, the Act of Seclusion was released by the shoguns which closed Japans borders. For over two and a half centuries, many citizens struggled because trade was prohibited. This time frame is known as the Edo period, and spanned from 1603 to 1868. Many people suffered from lack of food and money to keep …show more content…

The nation was a militarily weak, primarily agricultural, and had little technological development at the start of the Meiji period however it got better as time progressed. The beginning of the Meiji period was called a restoration in the country as there was a lot of change and modernization which happened as a result. After the Treaty of Kanagawa was signed with the West, Japan also signed similar agreements with Britain and Russia. Mutsuhito’s reforms design based off of western development and made Japan one of the leading industrial nations. By 1906, school attendance was as high as 95%, and Japan came to one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Universities as well as professional schools were also established to promote higher education and to meet the demands of a labor force based in new industries. The reestablished Japanese government recognized the importance of education in the country need to become more advanced and modern. However, this was not just one aspect that changed in Meiji period, many other areas in society changed and strengthened. The Meiji period helped Japan accomplish equality with many other western trade

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