This book describes the political and social development of Japan during the two and a half centuries of rule by the Tokugawa Shoguns, a period of remarkable development in almost every aspect of the national life.

Under Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa Shogun, a system of checks and balances to keep the great feudatories in order began to be devised. His successors continued this policy, and indeed the essential features of government by the Tokugawa Shoguns was a determination to keep the peace. Freed from civil war, the energies of the nation were devoted to increasing production of goods in agriculture, manufactures, and mining. Breaches in traditional policy of isolation began to occur with the arrival of foreign ships in Japanese waters, the first intruders being the Russians in the 1790's. Thereafter, the government struggled to keep foreign ships away from Japanese ports, but before long the pressure of the Western powers, strengthened by the arrival of warships under the command of Commodore Perry in 1853, forced Japan to take part in international affairs.

Format: 16 x 24,5 cm, 257 pages, hardcover. The protective cover made of foil is slightly torn.
Year of publication: 1963.
Condition: Book corners are slightly bumped but otherwise a very good and clean copy despite its age. This book is a library copy.