The History of the World Podcast, written and presented by Chris Hasler

Volume 4, The Medieval World, Episode 61, Kamakura Japan. Oh, We pick up the story of medieval Japan at the conclusion of the Battle of Danoaura in the year 1185.

The Teira clan had become the most influential clan in Japan leading into the Genpei War, which started in 1180.

During this war, members of the rival Minamoto Clan

challenged Taira dominance of the

dominance court. Over the course of the war and having suffered some early defeats in battle,

the Minamoto clan were able to push the Teira Clan out of the capital city of Kyoto and push them

westwards where the two clans would ultimately do battle at sea during the fateful Battle of Danora.

The Minamoto scored a crushing defeat over the Tayira causing many important Tayira samurai warriors to commit suicide viewed upon as an

honorable way to die. The brother of the

brother of the Minamoto-No Yoshitsone, the younger brother of the Minamoto-Lean leader

Minamoto-No Yuritomo.

While Yushitone was taking care of the military side of things, Yuritamo would be establishing political

control of the country.

He would initially appeal to the insay Goshirakawa. Goshirakawa was a former emperor and some

former emperors during this particular period would make the political decisions

ordinarily expected from the real emperor.

The real emperor during this period were ineffectual children who were simply dominated by stronger characters.

Yuritimo would obtain Goshiroh's blessing in taking control of the country and Yoritimo would take

control of provinces that were still rebelling against Minamoto authority.

Yoritimo's younger brother Yoshizani was authority. would feel uncomfortable with this fearing that Joshizhine was becoming too popular.

So Yuritamo would stand in the way of some of the opportunities being presented to his younger brother, and so the two would now be at odds with one

...