Discuss the causes and the consequences of the Gempei War (1180–1185).

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the causes and the consequences of the Gempei War. They may offer equal coverage of causes and consequences, or they may emphasize their discussion of one, but both will be a feature of the response. Candidates may identify the rivalry between the Minamoto and Taira clans that predates the timeframe, but it must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. They may refer to the intermarriage between each clan and the imperial family, the Taira’s influence after Emperor Takakura’s abdication, and the start of civil war. Candidates may consider consequences such as the dominance of the Minamoto, the Kamakura Shogunate, the relationship between emperor and shogun, and the rise of the warrior class. Other relevant factors may be addressed, for example, the geography of Japan and the feudal system, but with a focus on the issue in the question. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.