Peasants: In feudal Japan, peasants had a much higher status than peasants in feudal Europe. Japanese peasants owned the land that they worked. Lords and knights in Europe, owned the land in their domains, and the peasants were stuck on that land.
Also, with Japanese feudalism, peasants were respected because they produced food that fed people-peasants in feudal Europe did not receive this same respect. They were forced to work in grueling conditions, through disease, with next to no pay.
Artisans and Merchants: The status of artisans, those who made physical goods or worked trades like blacksmithing, woodworking, etc, in feudal Japan and Europe was similar-both were near the bottom of the social ladder. Merchants, however, had more respect in feudal Europe than in Japan. This was primarily due to the influence of Confucianism in Japan. By the late Middle Ages in Europe, many merchants had become wealthy and politically influential, while Japanese merchants could only gain financial wealth.
In the Pear Deck: Take notes on the similarities and differences between feudal Japan and feudal Europe. Try to identify at least one similarity and one difference. If you can identify more than one, then do so.
Similarity:
- Both feudal Japan and feudal Europe had a hierarchical social structure with a clear division between the ruling nobility and the lower classes.
Difference:
- Peasants in feudal Japan owned the land they worked, while peasants in feudal Europe were tied to the land owned by lords and knights.
- Peasants in feudal Japan were respected for their role in producing food, while peasants in feudal Europe were often exploited and faced harsh working conditions.
- Artisans in both feudal Japan and feudal Europe had low social status, but merchants in feudal Europe had more respect and influence compared to their counterparts in feudal Japan.