Big Idea

A civilization is changed by its contact with others.

Unit Questions:

• How did Japan’s geography isolate people and encourage clans rather than kingdoms?
• How did mainland Asia influence Japan?
• In what ways did religious beliefs change over time to reflect Japan's changing values?
• How did Japanese communities/culture differ from that of surrounding communities?

Unit Project

So, You Want to be a Samurai?

Instructions: For 700 years, Japan was ruled by the warrior class. You will create a brochure preparing a young man or woman for the realities of their new job as a samurai by spelling out the rules and expectations.

Objectives:

• Fold a piece of paper and design your handbook/brochure.
• The handbook should begin with a short paragraph about the history and importance of the samurai and expectations of a samurai’s family.
• Next, the rules/expectations should be listed/explained: The Code of Bushido.
• Finally, the handbook should conclude with a recruitment paragraph which indicates why someone would want to become a samurai.

Important Links:

• Study guide for Japan quiz 1
• Study guide for Japan quiz 2