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September 30, 2024
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jan 1, 1639 - Japan Closes it's Borders

Description:

Since the unification of the archipelago at the end of the 16th Century, the shogunate of Japan came to rule from the capital city of Edo which would eventually be known as Tokyo. This shogunate cracked down hard on crime and punishment going to great lengths to suppress any social unrest amongst the population. As well as this, since the European trades began, the shogunate viewed Christianity as a threat to the Japanese way of life. This eventually lead to a policy established during the 1630s known as sakoku, literally "closed country."

During this sakoku period, the entire country was closed off from the international world. Japanese people were no longer allowed to travel abroad, return from overseas or even build ocean-going vessels. Europeans were completely banned from entering the country with the one exception of Dutch traders that were allowed to visit the port of Dejima to the South. The only other countries allowed to trade with Japan were that of China and Korea. Apart from these almost all foreign imports were banned, and after 1639 the borders of Japan were essentially closed.

Despite this cut-off however, the population of Japan began to greatly increase, doubling to almost thirty million. New roads were constructed, tolls were abolished and one standard use of money was employed which caused cities to grow and society to thrive thus giving rise to great advancements in art and culture for the nation throughout the next 200 years.

Added to timeline:

Date:

jan 1, 1639
Now
~ 386 years ago

Images:

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