Unit 5 Timeline

Jomon Period ended

300 BCE

In Japanese history, the Jomon period was when Japan inhibited a diverse hunter-gatherer and early agriculturalist population. It reached a considerable degree of sedentism and cultural complexity. It is known for the creation of Pottery, Bows and Arrows.

Yayoi Period starts

300 BCE

The Yayoi period started in the late Neolithic period in Japan, continued through the Bronze Age, and towards its end crossed into the Iron Age. Known for its new pottery style. It also improved carpentry and architecture, and the start of an intensive rice agriculture in paddy fields.

Kofun Period starts

250

The Kofun Period is an era of history in Japan. The period recorded Japan's earliest political centralization, when the Yamato clan rose to power in southwestern Japan. It established the Imperial House, and helped control trade routes across the region.

The Yamato clan rose to power

251

During the Kofun Period, the Yamato clan rose to power in southwestern Japan. They were able to establish the Imperial House. Rising to power also helped them control trade routes across the region.

Asuka Period starts

538

The Asuka period was a time of transformation for Japanese society. It is named for the Asuka area at the southern end of the Nara. It was the political and cultural center of the country at the time.

Isshi Incident

645

The Isshi Incident was a (successful) plan to eliminate the main branch of the Soga Clan, which was one of the most powerful aristocratic kin groups of the Asuka period and had a major role in the spread of Buddhism in Japan. Nakatomi no Kamatari and Prince Naka no Ōe conspired the plan. They began with assissanting Soga no Iruka.

Nara Period starts

710

During the Nara Period, Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō, later known as Nara. The site was later converted to agricultural use and almost no trace of it remains. The period is known for Buddhism being brought to Japan and many aspects of Chinese culture were incorporated into Japanese society.

Heian Period starts

794

The Heian period is the last division of classical Japanese history. It began when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō. It is known for its peak of the Japanese imperial court, noted for its art, especially poetry and literature.

Kamakura Period/Feudalism starts

1185

The Kamakura period marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate. It is known for the emergence of the samurai, the warrior caste, and for the establishment of feudalism in Japan. During feudal Japan, vassals offered their loyalty and services to a landlord in exchange for access to a portion of land and its harvest.

Yoritomo becomes Military Leader

1192

The Emperor, Go-Toba, appoints Yoritomo as the new military leader with a residence in Kamakura. This establishes the bakufu system of government. Bakufu governments were limited in authority to the feudal overlord's domains.

Tenochtitlan was founded

1325

Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City) was founded by Aztecs. The legend is that the city was built where an eagle was seen perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak. The city formed alliances with neighboring city-states; Texcoco and Tlacopan.

Ming Dynasty is created

1368

The Ming Dynasty was created in 1368 and would later fall in 1644. The Ming Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China ruled by the Han people. It took place in China, which caused China's population to double.

Refurbishment of the Great Wall

1369

Rulers during the Ming Dynasty strengthened and maintained the Great Wall as a prevention of another Mongolian invasion. They rebuilt much of the wall in stone and brick. The majority of the work took place along the old walls built by the Bei Qi and Bei Wei.

Fleet of ships sent into the Indian Ocean

1405

Emperor Yongle sends Zheng He and a fleet of ships into the Indian Ocean. There were 62 ships sent and they stopped at many ports in South Asia. This resulted in an increase in China’s knowledge of the outside world.

Forbidden City is constructed

1406

The construction for the Forbidden City takes place from 1406-1420. It was the Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. Construction started when Zhu Di was the Ming emperor and it witnessed the enthronement of 14 Ming and 10 Qing emperors over the following 505 years.

Zheng He's voyages end

1433

Emperor Yongle dies. The voyages are discontinued. China focuses on agriculture and away from trade.

Rise of the Inca Empire

1438

Sapa Inca Pachacuti conquered neighboring tribes. Became a highly centralized state and was strictly regulated. The economy was based on farming.

Construction of Machu Picchu

1450

The Machu Picchu was an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti. It was built in 1450 (estimated) and took about 90 years to build. The building was abandoned a century later, at the time of the Spanish conquest.

Spanish Conquistadors attack Tenochtitlan

1521

The Spanish Conquistadors, with the help of Indigenous people, laid siege on the city. Fought for 93 days until the Mexcia (Tenochtitlan) surrendered. Large part of Tenochtitlan was destroyed in the fighting and after the surrender.

The Inca Empire Falls

1572

The Spanish began to conquer the Inca Empire in 1532 and it eventually fell in 1572. They were defeated for a majority of reasons. They had inferior weapons, diseases, the bold tactics of the Spanish, and the Inca Emperor being captured.