The Edo period, also known as the Tokugawa period, was a time of relative peace and stability in Japan, spanning from 1603 to 1868. It was characterized by the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's isolationist foreign policy, known as sakoku.
This period saw the rise of a robust urban culture, with the city of Edo, now Tokyo, becoming one of the largest cities in the world. Kabuki theatre and ukiyo-e woodblock prints are among the cultural developments that flourished during this time.
Key Highlights
- Establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate by Tokugawa Ieyasu.
- Japan's closed country policy, limiting foreign influence.
- Development of a vibrant merchant class and urban centers.
Despite its isolationist policy, the Edo period was a time of internal peace and significant cultural and economic growth. It set the stage for the modernization of Japan in the subsequent Meiji period.