3. 1.) What Conditions led to the development of feudalism
in both western Europe and Japan?
Strong central governments lost power, and warlords and
invaders threatened peace and stability.
People agreed to exchange services for protection.
4. 2.) IN the feudal system in both Europe and Japan,
what did lesser nobles give to lords in exchange for
grants of land?
Nobles gave loyalty and military service
5. 3.) What military figure existed in japan,
but not in europe?
The Shogun, a powerful general who became ruler of the
country.
6. 4.) What religious figure existed in
europe but not in japan?
The Pope, who headed the Catholic Church.
7. 5.) What different religions or belief
systems influenced people in the two
regions?
Roman Catholic Christianity influenced Europeans.
Confucianism and Buddhism influenced the Japanese.
9. Clan
A group of people, sometimes in the hundreds or thousands,
who are descended from a common ancestor.
10. Feudalism
a political and economic system in which lords gave lands to
nobles in return for military service and loyalty.
11. knight
Sometimes high-born, sometimes merely tenant farmers,
knights exchanged loyalty and military service to a lord for a
piece of land called a fief.
An European horseman warrior
17. 1.) What is the analytical question asked by this Mini-Q?
Samurai and Knights: Were the Similarities Greater than the
Differences?
18. 2.) What terms in the question need to be defined?
Samurai and Knights
19. 3.) Rewrite the question in your own words
Actual Question: Samurai and Knights: Were the
Similarities Greater than the Differences?
Possible Way to Reword it: Were the Japanese samurai and
European knights more alike or more different?
21. Documents
Document A: Two Feudal Class Systems
Document B: Loyalty to the Feudal Lord in Japan & Europe
Document C: Military Training of Samurai & Knights
Document D: Armor of Japanese & European Warriors
Document E: Codes of Honor
Document F: Feelings About Death
24. 1.) What is the purpose of drawing a
social pyramid?
The purpose of the social pyramid is to show which groups
of people have more power, wealth, and social standing than
the other groups.
It gives you a quick picture of who is at the top, middle, and
bottom of a society.
25. 2.) What group in Japan was like lords in
europe?
The daimyos were like the lords in Europe.
26. 3.) In Japan, what was the relationship
between samurai and daimyos?
The samurai were the warrior class and the daimyos were
the lords and landowners.
The daimyos hired the samurai for protection and making
war. In return, the samurai received land or payment for
their services.
27. 4.) IN Europe, what was the relationship
between knights and lords?
It was similar to the daimyos and samurai.
The lords were the wealthy landowners and the knights were
the warrior class.
The knights would receive land or payment from the lords
for the knights’ loyalty and military service to the lords.
28. 5.) Based JUST on this document, were the similarities between samurai and
knights greater than the differences? Provide evidence that supports your answer.
My Opinion: There were great similarities between knights
and samurai. In the social pyramid, they were both in the
same position in the social hierarchy and they both received
some sort of payment (land/fee) for their loyalty and
military service to their lord/daimyo.
29. Document B
loyalty to the feudal lord
in japan & Europe
loyalty to the feudal lord
in japan & Europe
30. 1.) Where was the relationship between lord and
warrior hereditary? What does thaT mean?
There was a hereditary relationship between lord and
warrior was in Japan.
It means that a child MUST follow the same relationship
that their parents had before them.
31. 2.) What evidence is there that the bond
between lord and samurai in japan was
stroNg?
In the document it states that the samurai’s allegiance to his
lord lasts the duration of three lives.....his past existence, his
present one, and the next life.
This shows that the bond is forever lasting!
32. 3.) About how many acres might be
required to support a knight in western
Europe?
FYI: You can find this answer in the Document NOTE
It took about 600 acres to enable a knight to support
himself, his horses, his armor, his squire, and his family if he
had one.
33. 4.) Based on the document what was an important
similarity between samurai and knights?
Similarity: Both the knights and samurai had to show a
sense of loyalty to both of their lords in order to receive
payment. They both had to give their lord military service as
well.
34. 5.) Based on the document what was an important
difference between samurai and knights?
Difference:
Samurai’s bond to his lord was hereditary and it was passed
down from generation to generation. A samurai’s child will
always be a samurai.
Knight had to show allegiance by a contract. A knight’s child
doesn’t have to become a knight and could stop the contract
that his father had “signed”. (This is found in the NOTE
section)
36. 1.) What are three examples of the kind of training
received by young samurai hopefuls?
Physical Training: Kendo (art of fencing with bamboo sticks)
Moral Training: Zen Buddhism
Mental Training: poetry
37. 2.)
What are three examples of the kind of training
received by pages hoping to become knights?
Horseman Training: refining his horse skills
Religious Training: some training in religious instructions
Physical Training: wooden swords
38. 3.) In what ceremony and at what age was a japanese
trainee inducted into the samurai class?
At the age of 14, Japanese trainee became a samurai in a
ceremony called genpuku.
39. 4.) At What age did a european page become a squire?
when did a squire become a knight?
European Pages became a squire at 14.
At the Age of 21, a squire became a knight.
40. 5.) Based on the document what were the main differences
between samurai and knights?
Differences:
Training: Samurai trained in studies as well as in fighting
and sometimes Japanese girls received warfare instruction.
There were many different levels of a knight’s training
unlike that of the Samurai.
Samurai may have gone into battle at a much younger age
since they became a samurai at the age of 14 & a knight
didn’t become “knighted” until the age of 21 where he would
be in battle alone.
41. 6.) Based on the document what were the main
similarities between samurai and knights?
Similarities:
Both samurai & knights began their training in their
childhood.
Both trained for many years before they became warriors.
Both used some sort of fake weapon to train.
Both received some religious or moral instruction.
Eventually they both studied poetry.
42. Document D
Armor of Japanese and
European Warriors
Armor of Japanese and
European Warriors
43. 1.) What was the main purpose of suits of armor?
The purpose for these suits of armor was to protect the
warrior in battle.
44. 2.) Both the samurai and knights generally fought on horseback. Who would have been
in the most trouble if he was knocked from his horse or his horse was killed? explain
your thinking.
The European knight would be in the most trouble because
of the weight of his armor which ranged anywhere from 4060 pounds. His horse meant that he was able to be move
about freely and without his horse, he was basically an open
target.
The Japanese samurai’s armor allowed for more hand to
hand fighting.
45. 3.) Military historians speak of the difference between shock warfare (striking the
enemy with weapons like swords, lances or axes) & projectile warfare (shooting or
throwing arrows, javelins, and bullets). Judging from the armor, which kind of
offensive warfare was fought by the samurai and knights? In each case, explain your
thinking.
Shock warfare: The knights were better suited for this type
of warfare because his armor allowed the knight to ride up to
his enemy and make a direct hit. It DIDN’T allow for the
knight to throw things at his enemy because of its rigidness.
Projectile warfare: The samurai were better suited for this
type of warfare because their armor had the right arm free
which allowed the warrior to THROW things at his enemy or
use his bow & arrow.
46. 4.) Based on the document, what was an important
similarity between samurai and knight armor?
Similarities:
Both warriors had some type of iron plate armor.
Both warriors’ armor was head to toe...full body.
47. 5.) Based on the document, WHAT was an important
difference between samurai and knight armor?
Differences:
The major difference had to be the free arm of the samurai
armor. This allowed the samurai to fight from either point
whether it was farther away using a bow and arrow or up
close using swords and having the ability to move around
and attack.
49. 1.) What are the main characteristics of bushido? what
are the main characteristics of chivalry?
Bushido: To be loyal to the master, upholding moral
principles, ways of peace and be ready to use your weapon at
all times.
Chivalry: Loyalty to the king, mercy, courtesy, helpfulness,
honor, strength, and bravery.
50. 2.) Which code of honor was written first? what is the difference in years between the
writing of these codes?
The Knights Code was written in 1470.
The Samurai Code was written in 1600s.
The difference is about 130 years.
51. 3.) What should a samurai do if there is a conflict between dealing with a family
problem and one involving the people he serves?
The samurai’s main concern is to always be loyal to his lord
and serve his lord even before his own family’s problems.
52. 4.) Based on this document, what were the main
similarities between samurai and knights?
Similarities:
The samurai and the knight both have to responsibility to be
loyal to his lord and to live an honorable life.
53. 5.) Based on the document, WHAT were the main
differences between samurai and knights?
Differences:
The samurai’s code seems more loyal and devoted to his lord
even before his family.
The knight’s code states that he must be loyal to his lord, but
also pay attention to being courteous to the ladies, not to
fight for worldly gain, give mercy to those asking for it.
55. 1.) What is the main idea of the first samurai poem?
One day you are here and the next you are not. It seems like
the poem expresses the beauty of it all through the mention
of twilight and autumn breezes.
56. 2.) what is the main idea of the second
samurai poem?
Death is like any other day. It really is no big deal.
57. 3.) How would you describe the french knight’s view of
life?
It seems like Roland is a bit afraid of death and asking
forgiveness for the sins that he has created.
Roland begs for mercy and it seems like he is fearful of not
being accepted into heaven.
58. 4.) In general, were the responses to death of the samurai
and the knight similar or different? explain
Opinion: The responses were very much different. It seems
like the Samurai never questioned his after life and it was as
if he knew his place in the after life. The samurai had been
honorable to his master as well as his ancestors so there was
no need for fear. Whereas with Roland, a French knight,
there were evident signs of worry through the beating of his
chest, the reaching to God as well as the asking for mercy.
This shows that Roland was not certain that he would be
offered a place in heaven.
