Sakoku. Ökonomische Anpassungen des Tokugawa-Shōgunats von 1639–1853.

Abstract

During the period of Edo (1603–1868), Japan was dominated and ruled by the Tokugawa Dynasty. In fact this family ruled the country on its own and provided every Shōgun in the modern age. In the era of the third Shōguns reign – Tokugawa Iemitsu – Japan got into a term of forclosure which at least took 200 years, today known as ‚Sakoku‘ (1639–1853). The purpose of this paper is to examine the economic and social conditions in order to consist as a souvereign country during this period of isolation. The focus to answer this question thereby lies on food supply, foreign commerce and the external relations of the Shōgunat.