| Date | May 2017 | Marks available | 15 | Reference code | 17M.3op3.HL.TZ0.4 |
| Level | Higher level only | Paper | Paper 3 (History of Asia and Oceania) | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Examine | Question number | 4 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Examine the impact of the samurai on Japanese society .
Markscheme
Candidates will consider the impact of the samurai on Japanese society in a way that uncovers the interrelationships of the issue. Candidates may argue that a cultural shift occurred from admiration of scholarship and aesthetics to a worship of the way of the warrior or Bushido. Candidates may address the impact of the samurai on areas such as art, literature, religion, gender relations and economics and identify the connections. Candidates may also consider the impact on the emergence of the feudal system by the end of the 12th century and the subsequent political and economic outcomes. While no set response is expected, candidates may choose a chronological or a thematic approach and they must focus on the impact of the samurai.
