Feudalism in medieval Japan began to rise in the late 12th century as the central government weakened and regional warlords, known as daimyo, gained power. These daimyo controlled their own lands and armies, creating a system of decentralized power. The samurai, a warrior class sworn to serve their lords, played a crucial role in this system by providing protection and loyalty in exchange for land. The establishment of the shogunate, led by a military ruler known as the shogun, further solidified the feudal hierarchy in Japan.
