Compare and Contrast Post-Classical Feudal Systems in Japan and Western Europe
DBQ #2
Prompt: Compare and contrast Post-Classical feudal systems in Japan and Western Europe. Based on the following, decide to what extent feudalism was similar and different in Japan and Western Europe, and account for the differences. What types of additional documentation would be useful to determine the specific rights and duties the various social classes possessed within both societies?
Feudalism in both Western Europe and Japan stressed the importance of warriors and the warrior code along with the significance of the separate, yet coexisting, parts of society and their reliance on each other. However, the Japanese focused more on morality and fulfilling their societal obligations whereas Europeans thought duty to their elders, betters and, most importantly, God was more crucial. Although feudalism in both Japan and Europe emerged due to political instability the reasons, processes, and results differed greatly.
In both Europe and Japan feudalism stressed the values and morals of warriors and their obligatory protection of people. The people of W. Europe felt it necessary for the warriors to “defend all the people” (Doc 1). The citizens are showing bias in that they required protection simply because they were scared and unsure of themselves. The Japanese showed another view of the warrior, “outwardly he stands in physical readiness for any call to service and inwardly he strives to fulfill the Way of the Lord and subject” (Doc 3). The speaker, a teacher, may have not totally understood the toll this might take on a warrior; having to be peaceful but ready to fight at the drop of a pin.
Feudalism also encouraged the subdivision of work among the people of both Japan and Europe. The European city was divided into three groups: “some pray, others fight, and still others work” (Doc 1). This quote shows that, although feudalism is thought to be completely supportive of warriors, it also encouraged the support of religious figures and peasants. After all, “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” – Lincoln, (apparently that concept is very old). The Japanese society tells that each place in society is equally important and reliant on the other parts (Doc 9).
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