What effect does geography have on the development of Japan?

1 Answer
Jan 28, 2018

Japan is a fairly small country with limited natural resources. Cultivable land for farming was scarce as the country is mountainous.

Explanation:

The mountains breakup the farming land into small areas so it is easy to control a locality but hard to control larger areas where communication links are limited. In Japan, rivers are generally short and have limited navigation.

Ways of getting around in older times would be walking, and sea going boats. The lack of land meant that horses and oxen would be limited as well (they are not indigenous). Trade between localities would be important to share limited resources. Trade to China and Korea would be important.

Scarcity would lead to conflict as well as co-operation. Efforts by natural leaders trying to dominate trade and land would lead to warfare.