Question

Describe the effects of economic changes in the Tokugawa Era on Japanese Peasants.

Answer 1

um alot went on but I don't know if it really affected the Peasants badly because they lived off their own land

Answer 2

yeah thats all i got from the video the website i do school on isnt helpful at all

Answer 3

http://www.grips.ac.jp/teacher/oono/hp/lecture_J/lec02.htm

Answer 4

From what I understand, a strict class system was put into place in the Tokugawa Era. If you were born a peasant, you were always a peasant. At the top of the chain sat the samurai who answered directly to the shogun who basically ruled Japan despite there being an emperor.

However, this also eventually undermined the rulng samurai class. Peasants worked the land and grew the food for their lords, but they could also sell what wasn't needed. Particularly savvy peasants, along with the merchant classes, developed into a strong economic force. In contrast, the samurai were poorer in comparison after so many years. They still held the power, but economically, weren't as self-sufficient as either the peasants or the merchants.

Also, this arrangement would eventually lead to some issues down the line as the politically powerless "lower classes" despite their wealth didn't have as much political influence as their "do nothing" samurai lords.

There's more on this that you can read from this essay if you want more details:
http://www.colorado.edu/cas/TEA/curriculum/imaging-japanese-history/tokugawa/essay.html