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Course: World History Project - Origins to the Present > Unit 4

Lesson 4: A Dark Age? | 4.3
Arts and humanities
World History Project - Origins to the Present
Era 4—Regional Webs (200 to 1500 CE)
A Dark Age? | 4.3
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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Shoguns, Samurai and the Japanese Middle Ages

Google Classroom
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the [transcript](transcript link here) first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. Beginning around the late twelfth century, what class became increasingly powerful? Who lost power?
  2. What new political system emerged around this time?
  3. Was power centralized in the shogunate or bakufu system? Who held power under this system?
  4. What are some similarities between the bakufu system in Japan and feudalism in Europe?
  5. What did guns have to do with Japanese reunification?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
  1. During Era 4, did Japan experience societal collapse? Did connections among communities in Japan increase or decrease?
  2. You’ve read about collapse and recovery all over the huge connected landmass of Afro-Eurasia. Can you think of any ways that the small island of Japan might have been influenced by decline and recovery in the rest of Afro-Eurasia?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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