Which of the following describes geographical features of Japan that shaped the country's economic and political development? (1 point)
1. Although it is an archipelago, Japan has very few islands, and all of them are extremely important to the country's development.
2. Mount Fuji is an important geographical feature but has not had any religious or cultural influence on the Japanese people.
3. Japan is physically distant from other nations and developed totally in isolation from them, without any external influences at all.
4. Japan's numerous islands and mountains affected efforts to develop a centralized government and interactions with other countries.
4. Japan's numerous islands and mountains affected efforts to develop a centralized government and interactions with other countries.
The correct option that describes geographical features of Japan that shaped the country's economic and political development is:
4. Japan's numerous islands and mountains affected efforts to develop a centralized government and interactions with other countries.
The correct answer is option 4: Japan's numerous islands and mountains affected efforts to develop a centralized government and interactions with other countries.
To understand why this option accurately describes the geographical features of Japan that shaped the country's economic and political development, we can break it down:
Japan consists of numerous islands, with the four main islands being Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Additionally, there are thousands of smaller islands surrounding these main islands. This archipelago geography played a significant role in shaping Japan's economic and political development.
The presence of multiple islands made it challenging to establish a centralized government. Historically, different regions of Japan would have their own local rulers, known as daimyo. These daimyo had significant autonomy over their territories, which made it difficult to achieve political unity across Japan. It was only towards the end of the 16th century, during a period known as the Sengoku period, that powerful daimyo like Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi managed to unify much of Japan under their control.
The mountainous terrain in Japan also had an impact on its economic and political development. The presence of mountains, including iconic ones like Mount Fuji, made land suitable for agriculture and habitation limited. This scarcity of arable land led to a heavily tiered system of land ownership, where the samurai class and the feudal lords owned the majority of land, while peasants and farmers worked on smaller plots. These mountainous regions were also difficult to access and traverse, making it a challenge to establish efficient transportation networks and communication systems across the country.
Furthermore, the geographical isolation of Japan also played a role in influencing its economic and political development. While Japan was not entirely cut off from external influences, its geographical location separated it from the Asian mainland. The sea acted as a natural barrier, limiting the ease of interaction with neighboring countries. This isolation allowed Japan to develop its unique culture, political systems, and economic practices with less direct influence from outside powers.
In summary, Japan's numerous islands and mountains affected the development of a centralized government and interactions with other countries. The archipelago geography made political unity difficult, the mountainous terrain limited agricultural land and transportation, and the geographical isolation allowed for the development of a unique culture and political system.