Shōgunate

A Shōgunate was a Japanese government led by a shōgun, a military ruler who held more power than the emperor. From the late 12th century until the 19th century, the shōgunate controlled Japan’s political and military affairs, while the emperor remained a symbolic figurehead. The shōgunate established centralized governance, often involving samurai warriors and a rigid social hierarchy. Different families or clans held power as shōgun at various times, such as the Kamakura, Muromachi, and Edo (Tokugawa) shōgunates, shaping Japan’s history through military strength and political authority.