Japanese+Middle+Ages

The Heian Period
The Samurai formed in 794 A.D. This began the rise of the Heian Period. The Heian Period was when landowners hired other people to protect their territory. The involvement in the Hogen started the fight between two Samurai Clans, the Minamoto and theTaira, took control of the country. The two clans fought until one claimed victory. The Heian Period lasted until 1185 A.D., and then began the Kamakura Period in 1192 A.D.

The Kamakura Period
The Kamakura Period started when Minamoto conquered over Taira. They took control and built a new military government. This was the first Samurai-dominated government. In 1185 (the year that this era ended), the samurai fought in the battle Dan-no-Ura.

The Muromachi Period
Later came the Muromachi Period. This was when Japan was divided into city-states. These city-states fought with each other rather than get along. This was also known as "The Era of Warring States." And since many of the city-states were fighting, many of them needed more Samurai. This Period ended in 1573 A.D.

Azuchi-Momoyama Period
This Era was when Japan was re-united. This happened in 1573 A.D. A man by the name of Toyotomi Hideyoshi built a castle system in which was completed by Tokugawa Ieyasu. The country was then turned into a a bunch of citys surrounded by castles. These were called castle-towns. The Samurai then had to choose weather they wanted a life of a farmer or a true Samurai (because at the time the Samurai were working as farmers).

Edo Period
This marked the end of the Samurai. The government ceased the Samurais' right to be the only armed force in Japan. The castle-towns were destroyed and the Osaka Castle was taken down in 1615. The feudal system and everything else slowly died off, and the end of the Samurai came in 1868 A.D.