Religion and Economy in Medieval Europe and Japan

Religion and Economy in Medieval Europe and Japan Social Hierarchy after urbanization Religion did not have as much of an impact on daily life and the overall development of Japan as it did Europe. For instance the maximum of the wars were fought for wealth or power, not religion, but what it did do was influence certain features. The people in Japan stuck to their original Shinto religion when Buddhism was involuntary forced on them, but soon after they discovered Zen Buddhism; a practice that was more focused on a personal experience and enlightenment.

This new religion created a general focused awareness in Japan, but also influenced culture and the arts, for example Noh Theater, which was known for Its precise and restricted movements. After the Mongol attacks, Japan began to cast-off anything Chinese, which was peculiar because of the large influence China had on Japan. From this time, Japan was remote, however during the second half of the Ashikaga period, Japan thrived. There was a rise of production of goods and trade with China. The Japanese learned how to make European muskets when a Portuguese ship’s reached t one of their ports.

This altered Japanese warfare. People changed to Christianity to increase trade, but was soon blocked, and once more Japan went into remoteness that lasted 200 years. There was however limited external trade, and the arts once again succeeded. The government of Japan became attentive in land recovery projects, and would limit taxes of people who supported it. This ended up creating semi-independent states, which developed the feudalism in Japan. Religion and Economics both part take a huge role in the growth of Medieval Europe and Japan.

In his case, they come In hand because one typically triggered the other. These two things influenced the growth of Europe and Japan because religion and tradition was a very vital aspect to both places, and trade and economy was a huge part of success. In medieval Europe, religion and economics were related. Religion caused war In this time period, plus the Crusades, which by Pope urban the Second was started. These wars were mainly over Jerusalem, the holy Land, and lasted over 200 years. They brought more power to the church and opened the pilgrimage routes, growing rade and more use of the coins.

This action began the urbanization of medieval Europe, which drastically changed the economy and would eventually lead to five centuries of Europe’s economic and cultural dominance. Before these wars, the church had money and was not separate from politics; actually, the pope had more power than king. The church did not need to pay taxes and received 10 percent of Christians’ yearly Income from the upper and lower class. The peasants and serfs would live on the nobles land grow crops and goods for them, and usually there was o way for a lower class to move up in the social hierarchy.

But with the expansion of trade, merchants and guilds started becoming more popular. Guild towns, inns, taverns, and city markets established. With the new coin currency banks and loans were formed, and the barter system was soon abandoned. All of these things 1 opened up opportunities and advancements. This formed modern Europe and made the way for the commercial and industrial revolution. The Feudal system in medieval Europe altered after the Crusades, trade become more significant part life at the time.

Now Europe became more urban and focused more on trade, causing many merchants to appear. This created a whole block in the social hierarchy; the middle class was now created. Made up of merchants and the artisans, the middle class offered peasants many more opportunities and a higher chance of moving up on the pyramid. Article 1: In the first place we grant to God and confirm by this our present charter for ourselves and our heirs in perpetuity that the English Church is to be free and to have all its rights fully and its liberties entirely.

We furthermore grant and give to all he freemen of our realm for ourselves and our heirs in perpetuity the liberties written below to have and to hold to them and their heirs from us and our heirs in perpetuity. … Article 29: No freeman is to be taken or imprisoned or disseised of his free tenement or of his liberties or free customs, or outlawed or exiled or in any way ruined, nor will we go against such a man or send against him save by lawful judgments of his peers or by the law of the land.

To no-one will we sell or deny of delay right or Justice. Magna Carta, 1215. This is an excerpt from the Magna Carta, an official document the king signed giving specific rights to the people in Europe. The Magna Carta, alike to the bill of rights and the constitution, gave power to the people and listed their rights. This introduced the first parliament, and could be thought of as the beginning of democracy. Feudalism in Japan was like to Europe’s but there are a some differences. The top three parts of the pyramid were the same, the lower class was different.

Japan put the status of peasants higher than merchants, because peasants and artisans were responsible for the production of heir food and necessary goods, whereas merchants Just “moved” it. Trade goods from China and Korea were silk, brocades, cotton, tea, books, copper coins, and porcelain. Japanese wares were swords, folding fans, sulfur, copper, and silver. Japanese priests on religious pilgrimages often went along on these Journeys as well. Chinese and Korean artists, potters, and priests also made the Journey to Japan…. Japanese merchants ranged far afield in Southeast Asia as well.

Whole communities of Japanese merchants set up shop in the Philippines, Siam, Taiwan, and the other islands ” . ” Louis G. Perez, The History of Japan, This excerpt speaks about trade in Japan. It talks about China, Korea, South East Asia, and a some others, which most are near Japan. When there were peaceful relations between these places, trade increased and so did Japan. When there was not, trade ceased and Japan fell into isolationism. This shows how trade and economy can have a great affect the development of something. There were similarities between the development of medieval Europe and the development of Japan.

While there were different religions in Japan, Christianity was the only religion in Europe. Even though things, including art and culture. Economy was a huge part of the success of both places, and they seemed to flourish when there was an increase in trade. The Feudal systems were both based on lords who gave vassals land, and received goods and services in return. The social hierarchy was also alike. The king would have about the same status as the emperor, as well nobles and Shogun and Daimyos were alike, and the knights to the Samurai. The most obvious difference is the, in the lower class, where peasant came before merchants.

War also had a huge impact on growth and evelopment, but in different ways. In Europe, war was over religion and it was usually to their good, but Japan for power and wealth, and slowed down the growth. Both places made choices and performed actions during this time that would affect their modern future. Like anything else, there are differences between the development of Europe and the development of Japan, but they both came down to, two main similarities; Religion and Economy. These two things influenced the culture, warfare, actions, and outcomes of both places, and helped shape them into the Europe and Japan we know today.