c. 300 BCE – 300 CEReputable sourceWell documented
The Yayoi Period: Rice and Metal
On the timeline · around c. 300 BCE – 300 CE · Ancient Japan
What happened
Migrants and ideas from the Asian mainland brought wet-rice agriculture, bronze, and iron to Japan. Intensive rice farming supported larger populations and gave rise to organized communities, social hierarchy, and the first small kingdoms across the islands.
Why it matters
The Yayoi transformation — from foraging to farming — created the agricultural and social basis of Japanese civilization and set the stage for the emergence of a unified state.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Yayoi Period · Reputable source