During the Yamto dynasty, the Japanese capital Edo,which is now Tokyo,became an elegant and sophisticated place.But people out side capital were angry because their opinions were ignored.They left excluded. Outside Edo a lot of powerful groups known as samurai emerged.The leaders of samurai were called warlords.Samurai were aggressive warriors and faithful to their warlord masters.The emperor had no army to fight them, so the warlords controlled the country.But they fought against each other in a power struggle which lasted for centuries.This sturggle ended in 1600 when Tokugawa,the most bloodthirsty of all the warlords, defeted the others.
When Tokugawa the most power thirsty warlord defeated the other warlords,the emperor gave him the title of 'shogun'or supreme military leader.Tokugawa replaced all the samurai warlords with his friends and allies.
With Tokugawa in power Japan closed its doors to the rest of the world,an isolation which lasted for more than 200 years.During this time,the emperor and his descendants were imprisoned in Koyoto Castle.No foreigners were allowed into Japan during this period except for a Dutch merchant ship which came once a year.Then,on July 8th 1853,a convoy of American ships sailed into the bay at Edo.(Tokyo)
.The leader of American force,commodore Mathew Perry,said the United States wish to trade with Japan.He ordered the Japanese to open their ports immediately.The Japanese did not accept his demands.Perry left,but he returned in February1854 with seven ships,known as the black ships,and 1,600 men.The convoy dropped anchor 40 kilometres from Edo.
Although the Japanes prepared for war,Perry's boats had cannons,which were far superior to Japanese weapons.Perry told the Japanese that he would shell the city if his demands were not met.He finally landed on March 8th 1854 and trade talks began.Eventually, the Japanese agreed to trade with the US.The 200 years of isolation were over.
With Tokugawa in power Japan closed its doors to the rest of the world,an isolation which lasted for more than 200 years.During this time,the emperor and his descendants were imprisoned in Koyoto Castle.No foreigners were allowed into Japan during this period except for a Dutch merchant ship which came once a year.Then,on July 8th 1853,a convoy of American ships sailed into the bay at Edo.(Tokyo)
.The leader of American force,commodore Mathew Perry,said the United States wish to trade with Japan.He ordered the Japanese to open their ports immediately.The Japanese did not accept his demands.Perry left,but he returned in February1854 with seven ships,known as the black ships,and 1,600 men.The convoy dropped anchor 40 kilometres from Edo.
Although the Japanes prepared for war,Perry's boats had cannons,which were far superior to Japanese weapons.Perry told the Japanese that he would shell the city if his demands were not met.He finally landed on March 8th 1854 and trade talks began.Eventually, the Japanese agreed to trade with the US.The 200 years of isolation were over.
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