Indiana Social Studies WH.3.8

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Major Civilizations and Cultural Interactions: 600 to 1300 CE

The Standard

Examine the development of feudalism in Japan and its impact on Japanese society and government.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students trace how large private estates and weaker court control gave local warriors more power. They explain how the shogun's military government changed who held power while the emperor remained on the throne.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can draw how farmers paid dues to estate authorities and how warriors protected landholders. They can explain why the shogun held military power while the emperor remained in place.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think the shogun replaced the emperor. They may also assume every warrior owned land or that Japanese feudal ties worked exactly like European ones.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Draw a diagram with a farmer, estate owner, warrior, emperor, and shogun. Label one flow of dues, one protection relationship, and who held military power.

Lesson moves

Give groups role cards for emperor, shogun, warrior, estate owner, and farmer; use string to show dues, protection, and authority.
Ask: Why might a landowner turn to a warrior instead of the imperial court to protect an estate? Use evidence from the role cards.
Give pairs role cards and action cards; have them match each person to a duty, then explain one match to another pair.
Show a sample property-tax bill; students compare today's public tax collection with dues paid by farmers on medieval Japanese estates.

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