Changes

*''Japanese'': 奄美諸島 ''(Amami shotou)''

*''Japanese'': 奄美諸島 ''(Amami shotou)''

==History==

==History==

Amami Ôshima is said to have sent [[tribute]] to the [[Yamato state]] (i.e. Japan) as early as the year [[699]]. This can be presumed to have tapered off by the 11th or 12th century, if not earlier. Amami sent tribute however, to the Kingdom of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], and later the Ryûkyû Kingdom (on Okinawa Island) from [[1266]] through the end of the 16th century; as with tribute received from the more southerly islands (the [[Yaeyama Islands|Yaeyamas]] and [[Miyako Islands|Miyako]]), tribute from Amami was received and stored at the port of [[Tomari]], just outside [[Naha]]. The Ryûkyû Kingdom did not, however, possess any true control over the Amami Islands at that time, and as late as the 16th century was engaged in military efforts to conquer these islands; as Ryûkyû moved north, and the [[Shimazu clan]] samurai of [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] moved south, both seeking to extend their control into the Amamis, Ryûkyû and Satsuma clashed on a number of occasions. One such clash took place in [[1493]]; Amami Ôshima formally submitted to Ryûkyû's authority in [[1571]]. That same year, the Shimazu attacked the island as part of efforts to seize control over all of Ryûkyû.

Amami Ôshima is said to have sent [[tribute]] to the [[Yamato state]] (i.e. Japan) as early as the year [[699]]. This can be presumed to have tapered off by the 11th or 12th century, if not earlier. Amami sent tribute however, to the Kingdom of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]], and later the Ryûkyû Kingdom (on Okinawa Island) from [[1266]] through the end of the 16th century; as with tribute received from the more southerly islands (the [[Yaeyama Islands|Yaeyamas]] and [[Miyako Islands|Miyako]]), tribute from Amami was received and stored at the port of [[Tomari]], just outside [[Naha]]. The islands were often referred to collectively as ''michi no shima'' ("islands of the road") as they formed a path Ryukyuan ships followed to travel to and from Kyushu.

 

The Ryûkyû Kingdom did not, however, possess any true control over the Amami Islands at that time, and as late as the 16th century was engaged in military efforts to conquer these islands; as Ryûkyû moved north, and the [[Shimazu clan]] samurai of [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] moved south, both seeking to extend their control into the Amamis, Ryûkyû and Satsuma clashed on a number of occasions. One such clash took place in [[1493]]; Amami Ôshima formally submitted to Ryûkyû's authority in [[1571]]. That same year, the Shimazu attacked the island as part of efforts to seize control over all of Ryûkyû.

Satsuma succeeded in conquering the Amamis and Okinawa in 1609. Following its defeat, the Ryûkyû Kingdom was permitted to remain intact and quasi-independent. Okinawa and all the [[Sakishima Islands|islands to the south]] remained under the control of the kingdom, which paid taxes to Satsuma and was in certain other respects subordinated to Satsuma's control. The Amamis, meanwhile, were wholly incorporated into Satsuma's territory. Satsuma undertook land surveys in [[1621]], assessing the agricultural productivity of the land in order to calculate taxation rates. The main agricultural products on the islands traditionally included rice, [[Satsumaimo]] (sweet potato), [[sugar]] cane, papaya, banana, and pineapple. ''[[Sotetsu]]'' (cycad) also grows naturally on the island. The Amamis are also known for their textiles, including especially Amami ''[[tsumugi]]'' (pongee). This ''tsumugi'', along with sugar, were the chief goods claimed by Satsuma in taxes.

Satsuma succeeded in conquering the Amamis and Okinawa in 1609. Following its defeat, the Ryûkyû Kingdom was permitted to remain intact and quasi-independent. Okinawa and all the [[Sakishima Islands|islands to the south]] remained under the control of the kingdom, which paid taxes to Satsuma and was in certain other respects subordinated to Satsuma's control. The Amamis, meanwhile, were wholly incorporated into Satsuma's territory. Satsuma undertook land surveys in [[1621]], assessing the agricultural productivity of the land in order to calculate taxation rates. The main agricultural products on the islands traditionally included rice, [[Satsumaimo]] (sweet potato), [[sugar]] cane, papaya, banana, and pineapple. ''[[Sotetsu]]'' (cycad) also grows naturally on the island. The Amamis are also known for their textiles, including especially Amami ''[[tsumugi]]'' (pongee). This ''tsumugi'', along with sugar, were the chief goods claimed by Satsuma in taxes.