Description
Book SynopsisSamurai: A Concise History provides a dynamic look at the life and times of the samurai. Although this warrior class comprised only a small portion of the Japanese population, they dominated warfare throughout history, influenced politics, art, philosophy and religion, and ultimately controlled Japan from the fourteenth century until their demise in the mid-nineteenth century.
Trade ReviewIn this myth-busting race through 1,100 years of samurai history, Wert reveals how the Japanese warrior class not only not only influenced military matters, but also culture, religion, and the arts. * Ellie Cawthorne and Matt Eltom, BBC History Magazine *
The term samurai brings to mind disciplined, well-trained warrior-soldiers, skillfully wielding swords and following a strict military-ethical code of honor and sacrifice. Michael Wert, an associate professor at Marquette University who specializes in Japanese history, seeks to dispel this popular depiction in his fascinating short history of the samurai. * Francis P Sempa *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One: Becoming Those Who Served Chapter Two: Early Warrior Authority Chapter Three: War and Culture Chapter Four: Warriors in an Age of Peace Chapter Five: Samurai Invention and Decline Notes Further Reading Index
