Changes

==History==

==History==

===Ancient and Classical Periods===

===Ancient and Classical Periods===

Though far from the major historical political, economic, and cultural centers of [[Kansai]] and [[Kanto|Kantô]], as the part of the archipelago closest to the Asian mainland, Kyushu features prominently throughout history in Japan's interactions with the outside world.

Though far from the major historical political, economic, and cultural centers of [[Kansai]] and [[Kanto|Kantô]], as the part of the archipelago closest to the Asian mainland, Kyushu features prominently throughout history in Japan's interactions with the outside world. At their closest point, Kyushu and Korea are about six times as far away as Britain is from France; this has allowed considerable exchange and interaction over the centuries, but also protection from mainland invaders.<ref>[[Albert Craig]], ''The Heritage of Japanese Civilization'', Second Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 2.</ref>

Kyushu is generally said to have been the site of the earliest state formation in the Japanese archipelago. Though the origins and identity of the [[Yayoi people]] remain very much subjects of debate, it is widely accepted that prior to the establishment of a proto-Japanese state on the [[Yamato province|Yamato]] plain in central [[Honshu]], the Yayoi clans became organized on Kyushu. Small tribal communities formed confederations, and engaged in trade and relations with societies on the [[Ryukyu Islands]], Korean peninsula, and in China. Among the more powerful, or at least more famous today, was a confederation known as [[Yamatai]], ruled for a time by Queen [[Himiko]].

Kyushu is generally said to have been the site of the earliest state formation in the Japanese archipelago. Though the origins and identity of the [[Yayoi people]] remain very much subjects of debate, it is widely accepted that prior to the establishment of a proto-Japanese state on the [[Yamato province|Yamato]] plain in central [[Honshu]], the Yayoi clans became organized on Kyushu. Small tribal communities formed confederations, and engaged in trade and relations with societies on the [[Ryukyu Islands]], Korean peninsula, and in China. Among the more powerful, or at least more famous today, was a confederation known as [[Yamatai]], ruled for a time by Queen [[Himiko]].