The Court

Town Life

Your drive for political and economic power has intrigued and frightened many people in
society.

Japan- Doctor and Merchant
Europe- Doctor and Merchant

Group Tasks

The Team Manager, Research Manager, Production Manager and Archive
Manager roles are defined on the Group Tasks page.

Assessment Questions

1. What were the expectations and duties of each class in Japanese and European
1. societies? How did people in society treat you? Which members of society would
1. have been your peers/above/below? Describe your profession.

2. Why was the proximity to China and Korea important to the intellectual, linguistic,
1. religious and philosophical developments in Japan?

3. What new tools/technologies were introduced in the middle ages? How would
1. you make each new tool? What did each new tool add to your life? What did each
1. new tool take away from your life?

4. How was your home built? Which materials were used to build your house? Why
1. were these materials used?

5. How did the Geography of Europe (location, topography, waterways, vegetation,
1. climate) affect the ways of life in Medieval Europe?

6. Which medieval English legal documents led to modern democratic thought and
1. representative institutions?

7. How did the development of feudalism affect the Medieval European and
1. Japanese economy and town growth? How did feudal relationships provide
1. the foundation of political order?

8. What impact did the bubonic plague have on the global population?

Action Plan

1. How do you define your roles?

2. What will your plan of action be for your project?

3. What are each manager's responsibilities?

4. What are your time restrictions?

5. Design a work calendar.

6. Where are you going to find your materials?

7. What is your final product?

Resources

Town Life- MEDIEVAL SOCIETY- Europe - As always, the experts at searchopolis have done a great job compiling a list of useful sites. This page includes the following topics: Everyday life, art, architecture and religion, people, places and events, wars and conflicts, explorers and conquerors, government and rulers, general topics and overviews and the plague.

Town Life- MEDIEVAL RECIPES- Europe - This medieval European recipe collection was taken from The British Museum Cookbook.

Town Life- SOCIETY- Japan - An excellent entry point for learning about medieval Japan. Links include those on general history, dress and astronomy.

Town Life- EDO- Japan - This site explores life in a traditional culture. The learner is welcomed to Edo, the true center of power during the reign of the Tokugawa Shoguns. It is a great looking site which is packed with information.