1185–1333Reputable sourceWell documented
The Kamakura Shogunate and the Rise of the Samurai
On the timeline · around 1185–1333 · Feudal Japan
What happened
After the Genpei War, the victorious warrior Minamoto no Yoritomo established a military government — the shogunate — at Kamakura, ruling in the emperor's name. Real power passed from the court to the samurai, the warrior class whose code of loyalty and martial honor would dominate Japan for nearly 700 years.
Why it matters
The Kamakura shogunate began Japan's long age of feudal, warrior rule. For the first time the emperor reigned while military leaders governed — a division of authority that shaped Japan until the 19th century.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Kamakura Period · Reputable source