JapanJapan5-15-1

bomb

Pearl

The four largest IslandsThe four largest Islands

VolcanoesVolcanoes

Japan being a Japan being a mountainous mountainous region has region has 188 188 volcanoes- volcanoes- many are many are activeactive

Here are the Here are the major onesmajor ones

Mt. Fuji - the largestMt. Fuji - the largest

Mt. Fuji is the largest volcano in Japan. During a very large eruption that occurred about 300 years ago (1707), abundant ash and scoria were ejected over an area reaching as far as Edo. Mt. Unzen in Kyushu is another active volcano. It had been queit for 192 years before it erupted again in 1990. Mt. Asama is yet another example of very active and dangerous volcanoes. Its eruption in 1783 caused enormous disaster.

First SettlersFirst Settlers Came from northeast Asia, Came from northeast Asia,

30,000 B.C.- 30,000 B.C.- Japan was Japan was once attached to the once attached to the Asian ContinentAsian Continent

300 B.C. Yayoi- ancestors 300 B.C. Yayoi- ancestors of the Japanese people- of the Japanese people- introduced farming, rice introduced farming, rice paddies, metal workingpaddies, metal working

They also organized into They also organized into clans- groups related by clans- groups related by blood or marriageblood or marriage

Warriors at the top- Warriors at the top- controlling artisans, controlling artisans, farmers- protection for ricefarmers- protection for rice

YamatoYamato

A.D. 500’s they became strong A.D. 500’s they became strong enough to rule most of Japanenough to rule most of Japan

Rulers were descendants from Rulers were descendants from heaven- heaven- Jimmu- “emperor of Jimmu- “emperor of heaven”- founded a line of rulers heaven”- founded a line of rulers that has never been brokenthat has never been broken

ShotokuShotoku Took charge of Japan on Took charge of Japan on

behalf of his auntbehalf of his aunt Wanted to follow China’s Wanted to follow China’s

example- sent people to example- sent people to learn from China- new learn from China- new knowledge trickled knowledge trickled through Koreathrough Korea

Created a constitutionCreated a constitution Began the Taika- “great Began the Taika- “great

change”- divided Japan into change”- divided Japan into provinces, or regional provinces, or regional districts- all land belonged districts- all land belonged to emperor- his people to emperor- his people collected taxescollected taxes

Oldest Buddhist Temple

ShintoShinto

Based on nature spirits- Based on nature spirits- “way of the “way of the spirits”spirits”

Believed that all things have their own Believed that all things have their own spirits- spirits- animism-the belief that all animism-the belief that all natural things are alive and have natural things are alive and have spirits,spirits, worshiped in shrines worshiped in shrines