History essay –
Everyday life in Shogunate Japan and Medieval Europe was hard for most people. Society was divided into the higher class and the lower class, even though there was a hierarchy most people lived in the lower class. The Japanese hierarchy was based upon respect for each position with the emperor and shogun at the top. The hierarchy structure of medieval Europe was based on who has the most wealth and power, with the king at the top and Lords beneath.
In Medieval Europe and Shogunate, Japan society was divided into classes and societal roles. In both civilisations, they had higher and lower classes. In Europe, the lower class was not respected but on the other hand, Shogunate Japan respected peasants because they provided them with food and other materials. This selected source is from ‘Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry’. This was created about 1413. This image is based off a New Year’s Eve party, it depicts the higher class exchanging gifts and more. It is at the house of John, the Duke of Berry. The location of the place is in Medieval Europe. This shows the higher class in Europe with their lavish clothing, compared to the lower class European peasants who wore clothes almost as bad as rags. In Japan, the daimyo, shotguns and lords wore better clothes than the peasants in Japan, although the peasant’s clothing was not as bad compared to medieval Europe. It is evident that this party for nobles and rich people. This is because of elements of the painting such as people wearing lavish clothes, the painted walls, the vast amount of food on the table and gold items. This painting is from the same source as Alex’s lower class Europe painting. In that painting, it shows the peasants working in the fields to make food their masters and higher class people. These people who give the higher class food are not even respected by them or treated as real people. Compared to Shogunate Japan, peasants were actually respected by the higher class such as Daimyo and Shoguns because their work gave them food and many other resources.
This source depicts the daimyo making their way to the capital and how they are progressing through the area. This primary source is a Tokugawa artwork which is part of a scroll, the scroll was created in shogunate Japan in the Edo period. This image represented showcases Daimyo making their journey to the capitol. This image showcases the way they walk in certain groups and how they are wearing different clothing which suggests they are walking in the order of their hierarchy and the status of their social class. The image shows how the daimyo is making their probably annual trip to the capitol. It also looks like they may enjoy this trip and for them, they may also feel honoured and very proud. This shows they are in the higher class citizens. It also showed that people of the higher class had different clothing and jobs. Other high-class jobs were ruling the lands, being a warrior of being an emperor. These jobs/people were respected amongst Japan. Many high-class people ate more luxurious and more food in comparison to the lower class. They are lots of fruit, Rice, seafood and deep-fried foods. This differentiates between Europe as wealthy people mainly ate dairy, fish and meats.
This Primary Source is from the decorated Books of Hours, containing prayers to be faithful. My source touches on one of the hours illustrated in 1412-1416. The illustration by Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry in 1412 – 16. The illustration in the Book of Hours is mainly showing the occupations in June. In this time, people are shown harvesting in the fields to the left as well as the people on the right.
The labours of this month are very dependent on the local season, due to the cooperation of the weather helping the west grow. In the painting, it is evident that the people harvesting the wheat are peasants. This is shown through the artist painting their clothing as cheap materials. In the other photos of the months, some of the people are wearing expensive and good looking clothing. It is also evident that they are peasants and all the people do not wear shoes while harvesting the wheat. Altogether, the painting shows how in the month of June, the peasant's occupations are to farm the west for the people of the town. The painting also gives us an inside on how the peasants living conditions and how they are treated. Medieval Europe and shogunate Japan are related to each other as the majority of people were peasants/farmers. The main difference is that peasants in Japan were well respected as they harvested food for the country.
The lower class of Japan has its differences with the lower class of medieval Europe. In medieval Europe, peasants were considered the lowest of the hierarchy whereas peasants in Japan were quite respected as they provided food. In the artwork shown/ analysed, made by a modern artist, showed the differences between the different types of people on the hierarchy. In the lower class of Japan, artisans, farmers, merchants and the Eda are considered poor. They had different jobs, clothing and respect. The views showed in the sources are somewhat objective as there are no opinions. Many people of the lower class ate fish, rice and vegetables. This was made to make pottage. Everyone is japan wore kimonos yet the lower class people wore kimonos made out of cotton. Moreover, the lower class has a lower standard of living in medieval Japan.
Japanese houses
The ancient Japanese architecture is called Tatami. This meaning regulating a building's size and dimensions by using panels. They are traditionally hand painted and can slide. The panels are made from wood and paper which makes them easily removed. The roofs of the traditional houses in Japan are made of wood and clay with tiles. The average size of a home in Japan is 121.7 m2 .The Japanese houses are only meant to last 30 years.
Medieval houses in Europe
The Medieval House in the Early Medieval Period – Peasants
Most Peasants houses from this period would have not survived due to it being created with a weak material such as straw and mad. There were one-roomed houses which are shared with families and animals. Peasants made their own houses as they were too poor to pay someone else to build it for them.
Wattle and Daub houses are tall and wide houses that are made from simple stick and straw. They are made by constructing a framework of timber, then filing with woven twigs. This is a mixture of mud, straw and manure. Using this mixture creates a strong binding wall structure. The straws would add insulation to the wall. By using these mixtures, the house is protected from the weather. The windows are small opening usually used for getting light inside.
The houses usually made for the higher class were made out of brick. Although brick was an extremely expensive option to build houses with so many chose to make houses out of half-timbered, these are called Tudor Houses. A new range of tiles was used on the roofs on the house and some of these houses had chimneys and glass in the windows. These houses were more advanced than the ordinary houses.
After looking at both the Japanese and Medieval houses in Europe we could say that they were very similar in the making. They both used straw, clay and sticks as it was the most common product found and the cheapest. As progress took place bricks were introduced.
To conclude there were many differences between medieval Europe and Japan. The clothes worn, the food they ate and the quality of life. Although there were many differences there were some similarities, for example, the occupations (peasants were farmers and samurais/knights fought for their groups)both countries had a hierarchy to show respect and wealth.
History Transcript pitch exhibition –
Alex- Good morning Board Of Directors, today we will be presenting our pitch for a new exhibit, about comparing social classes and everyday life in Shogunate Japan and Medieval Europe.
Lucas- In Medieval Europe and Shogunate, the Japanese society was divided into classes and societal roles. In both civilisations, they had higher and lower classes. In Europe, the lower class was not respected but on the other hand, Shogunate Japan respected peasants because they provided them with food and other materials.
Daniella- Our main overview/topic that we covered is everyday life. Our Researches thoroughly investigated into gathered the most reliable information to bring a light to our exhibition. The different topic we covered were Clothing, Diet, Farming & Housing.
Jess: An overview of a topic is the clothing worn in both Japan and Europe. Kimonos were worn by everyone in shogunate Japan yet the type of material used to create them is different as the material shows status. For example, many poorer people wore kimonos made of cotton. More wealthy people had kimonos made of silk. Samurais wore a pattern on their armour and Hakamas, which were similar to skirts on top of baggy pants. They wear straw
Alex: clothes worn in medieval Europe depended on the social class. Many poorer people wore wool. Rich people commonly wore fur and jewellery. Many places in medieval Europe did not have a traditional dress or a common outfit like the kimono.
Daniella: The layout of our exhibit will be a dark room, 1 side will contain moving artifacts and information about Shogunate Japan and the other will be about Medieval Europe. As you walk in, there will be a costume box where people can pick costumes, they can either be from Japan or Europe. There will be information that you could read and a video on each of the screens which show each of the people’s daily lives.
Jess – First on the Japanese side are the Emperor, Shogun, Daimyo and Samurai social classes. They would have information behind them about their food, clothes and job in society. As well as how they compare to the lower class in Japan
Alex – On the other side, another end of the Japanese wall would be the lower class. This includes peasants, artisans and merchants. The information about them would tell people about different types of artisans, what types of plants peasants grew and information about everyday activities.
Lucas – On the other side of the room would be the European side, starting off with the higher class. These included the Pope, kings and nobles. The information would be about The Pope’s influence and power, Noble’s relationship with royalty and their everyday life such as food and clothing.
Daniella – The end part of the European side of the room would have the lower class of Europe, including information about the Peasant’s work, how they lived, what they contributed to society and how they weren’t respected as people.
Jess – Thank you for your time, board of directors. We hope you consider our proposal.