• Syllabus

2: Japan in the Age of the Samurai (1180–1333)

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Sub sections and their related questions

The Gempei War (1180–1185) and the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate

• 17M.3op3.HL.TZ0.3:

  Evaluate the political impact of the Gempei War (1180–1185).

• 19M.3op3.HL.TZ0.3: Evaluate the political impact of the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate on Japan.
• 19N.3op3.HL.TZ0.3: “The establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate was the most significant consequence of the Gempei...
• 21M.3op3.HL.TZ0.3:

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

• 22M.3op3.HL.TZ0.3:

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

The expanding role of the samurai under Minamoto; rising military and economic power; replacement of court government with the samurai; role in developing law

• 17N.3op3.HL.TZ0.03: Discuss the reasons for the declining power of the emperor during the period between 1180 and 1333.
• 21N.3op3.HL.TZ0.3: Discuss the reasons for the samurai’s increasing political influence under Minamoto.

Struggles between samurai clans

• 17N.3op3.HL.TZ0.04: Discuss the reasons for, and the results of, the struggles between samurai clans during the...
• 18M.3op3.HL.TZ0.3: “The struggles between samurai clans were mainly motivated by economic factors.” Discuss.

Establishment of the first samurai-dominated government; declining power of the emperor

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Samurai life: samurai ethos/ethical code or “Bushido”—the way of the warrior; focus on group loyalty and discipline; influence of Buddhism; samurai weapons and armour; the role of samurai women

• 18M.3op3.HL.TZ0.4: Evaluate the influence of Buddhism on samurai culture.
• 18N.3op3.HL.TZ0.3: “Buddhism was the most significant influence on the samurai way of life.” Discuss.
• 19N.3op3.HL.TZ0.4: “Samurai women were influential in Japanese society.” To what extent do you agree with this...

Impact of the samurai on Japanese society and culture

• 17M.3op3.HL.TZ0.4: Examine the impact of the samurai on Japanese society .
• 19M.3op3.HL.TZ0.4: “The expanding role of the samurai had a negative impact on Japanese society and culture.” Discuss.
• 20N.3op3.HL.TZ0.3: Evaluate the impact of the samurai on Japanese society and culture.
• 22M.3op3.HL.TZ0.4: “The samurai had a significant impact on Japanese society and culture.” Discuss.

The Mongol invasions of Japan and the kamikaze storms (1274 and 1281)

• 18N.3op3.HL.TZ0.4:

  “The Mongol invasions highlighted Japan’s military weaknesses and it was only the kamikaze storms (1274 and 1281) that saved Japan.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

• 20N.3op3.HL.TZ0.4: “The failure of the Mongol invasions demonstrated the military strength of Japan.” To what extent...
• 21M.3op3.HL.TZ0.4: Evaluate the impact of the Mongol invasions of Japan.
• 21N.3op3.HL.TZ0.4: Evaluate the impact on Japan of the invasions by the Yuan dynasty in the late 13th century.