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What were the Jin-Song Wars (1125-1234)?

Introduction The Jin–Song Wars were a series of conflicts between the Jurchen Jin dynasty (1115-1234) and Han Chinese Song dynasty (960-1279). In 1115, Jurchen tribes rebelled against their overlords, the Khitan Liao dynasty (907-1125), and declared the formation of the Jin. Allying with the Song against their common enemy the Liao dynasty, the Jin promised… Read More

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What was the Vandalic War (533-534)?

Introduction The Vandalic or Vandal War (Greek: Βανδηλικὸς Πόλεμος, Vandēlikòs Pólemos) was a conflict fought in North Africa (largely in modern Tunisia) between the forces of the Byzantine, or East Roman, empire and the Vandalic Kingdom of Carthage, in 533–534. It was the first of Justinian I’s wars of reconquest of the lost Western Roman… Read More

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What was the Meiji Restoration?

Introduction The Meiji Restoration (Japanese: 明治維新, Hepburn: Meiji Ishin), referred to at the time as the Honorable Restoration (御一新, Goisshin), and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Reform, or Renewal, was an event that restored practical imperial rule to the Empire of Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Although there were ruling Emperors before… Read More

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What was the Battle of Sekigahara (1600)?

Introduction The Battle of Sekigahara (Shinjitai: 関ヶ原の戦い; Kyūjitai: 關ヶ原の戰い, Hepburn romanization: Sekigahara no Tatakai) was a decisive battle on 21 October 1600 (Keichō 5, 15th day of the 9th month), this battle was the biggest and one of the most important battles in Japanese feudal history, that preceded the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate. Tokugawa… Read More

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What is a Daimyo?

Introduction Daimyo (大名, Daimyō, Japanese pronunciation: [daimʲoː]) were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shōgun and nominally to the emperor and the kuge. In the term,… Read More