Changes

*kaikin (sakoku), intensification of agriculture, development of domestic trade networks, merchant guilds and organization, rice brokers --> banks

*kaikin (sakoku), intensification of agriculture, development of domestic trade networks, merchant guilds and organization, rice brokers --> banks

In the late 18th century, merchant houses worth more than 200,000 ''[[currency|ryô]]'' numbered more than two hundred. With one ''ryô'' being ostensibly equal in value to one ''koku'', this made the wealth of these merchant houses equivalent to that of some of the wealthiest ''daimyô''.<ref>Schirokauer, 135.</ref>

In the late 18th century, merchant houses worth more than 200,000 ''[[currency|ryô]]'' numbered more than two hundred. With one ''ryô'' being ostensibly equal in value to one ''koku'', this made the wealth of these merchant houses equivalent to that of some of the wealthiest ''daimyô''.<ref name=brief135/>

==Popular Culture==

==Popular Culture==

*ukiyo-e, urbanization, kabuki & bunraku, kibyoshi/sharebon, pleasure quarters (Yoshiwara)

*ukiyo-e, urbanization, kabuki & bunraku, kibyoshi/sharebon, pleasure quarters (Yoshiwara)

*It has been estimated that in the 18th century, 22% of the population of the archipelago lived in cities.<ref>Kenneth Pomeranz, ''The Great Divergence'', Princeton University Press (2000), 35.</ref>

*It has been estimated that in the 18th century, 22% of the population of the archipelago lived in cities.<ref>Kenneth Pomeranz, ''The Great Divergence'', Princeton University Press (2000), 35.</ref> Roughly two percent of the archipelago's inhabitants were considered ''[[eta]]'' or ''[[hinin]]'', classes of outcastes associated with physical and spiritual pollution.<ref name=brief135>Schirokauer, et al., 135.</ref>

==Society==

==Society==

*mibunsei, four classes of society, rise of merchant class, decline of samurai (warrior class in a peaceful time)

*mibunsei, four classes of society, rise of merchant class, decline of samurai (warrior class in a peaceful time)

The population of the archipelago at the beginning of the Tokugawa period is estimated at roughly 18 million people, expanding to around 30 million by around 1750. The population fluctuated but did not grow significantly after that; records from [[1872]] indicate a population of 33.1 million.<ref name=brief133>Schirokauer, et al, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 133.</ref>

The population of the archipelago at the beginning of the Tokugawa period is estimated at roughly 18 million people, expanding to around 30 million by around 1750. The population fluctuated but did not grow significantly after that; records from [[1872]] indicate a population of 33.1 million.<ref name=brief133>Schirokauer, et al., 133.</ref>

Samurai are believed to have comprised, during the Edo period, roughly six percent of the population of the archipelago. Government work was the chief avenue seen as an honorable path for samurai, while most forms of merchant or artisan (craftsman/manufacture) work, as well as agricultural labor, were seen as being beneath them, unfitting for someone of samurai status. Since samurai were so numerous, however, and there were only so many government positions, by [[1705]], it is believed that roughly one-quarter of the shogun's vassals were unemployed.<ref>*Craig, Teruko (trans.). ''Musui's Story: The Autobiography of a Tokugawa Samurai''. University of Arizona Press, 1988. p.xii.</ref>

Samurai are believed to have comprised, during the Edo period, roughly six percent of the population of the archipelago. Government work was the chief avenue seen as an honorable path for samurai, while most forms of merchant or artisan (craftsman/manufacture) work, as well as agricultural labor, were seen as being beneath them, unfitting for someone of samurai status. Since samurai were so numerous, however, and there were only so many government positions, by [[1705]], it is believed that roughly one-quarter of the shogun's vassals were unemployed.<ref>*Craig, Teruko (trans.). ''Musui's Story: The Autobiography of a Tokugawa Samurai''. University of Arizona Press, 1988. p.xii.</ref>

*[[Robert Sakai|Sakai, Robert]]. "Feudal Society and Modern Leadership in Satsuma-han." ''Journal of Asian Studies'' 16:3 (May 1957). pp365-376.

*[[Robert Sakai|Sakai, Robert]]. "Feudal Society and Modern Leadership in Satsuma-han." ''Journal of Asian Studies'' 16:3 (May 1957). pp365-376.

*[[George Sansom|Sansom, George]]. ''A History of Japan 1615-1867''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1963.  

*[[George Sansom|Sansom, George]]. ''A History of Japan 1615-1867''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1963.  

*[[Ronald Toby|Toby, Ronald]]. ''State and Diplomacy in Early Modern Japan''. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984.

*[[Ronald Toby|Toby, Ronald]]. ''State and Diplomacy in Early Modern Japan''. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984.