Jomon Period ~ 10,000 - 300 BC The early Japanese were gatherers, hunters and fishers.
Yayoi Period ~ 300 BC - 300 AD The introduction of rice agriculture evokes the development of a social hierarchy and hundreds of small countries that started to unify into larger countries.
Kofun Period ~ 300 - 710 300 Japan is for the first time more or less united. 538/552 Introduction of Buddhism. 604 Prince Shotoku's Constitution of seventeen articles is promulgated. 645 The Taika reform is introduced. The Fujiwara era starts.
Nara Period ~ 710 - 784 710 Nara becomes the first permanent capital. 784 The capital moves to Nagaoka.
Heian Period ~ 794 - 1185 794 The capital moves to Heian (Kyoto). 1016 Fujiwara Michinaga becomes regent. 1159 The Taira clan under Taira Kiyomori takes over the power after the Heiji War. 1175 The Buddhist Judo sect is introduced. 1180-85 In the Gempai War, the Minamoto clan puts an end to Taira supremacy.
Kamakura Period ~ 1185 - 1333 1191 The Zen sect is introduced. 1192 Minamoto Yoritomo is appointed shogun and establishes the kamakura government. 1221 The Jokyu Disturbance ends a struggle between Kamakura and Kyoto resulting in the supremacy of the Hojo regents in Kamakura. 1232 A legal code, the Joei Shikimoku, is promulgated. 1274 and 1281 The Mongols try to invade Japan twice but fail mainly because of bad weather conditions. 1333 The Kamakura Bakufu falls.
