At the top of the social of the social pyramid was the Emperor. The Emperor had little power but he was above the Shoguns. The Shoguns were powerful military leaders, they controlled the government and had the most power. The Daimyo followed the Shoguns who were powerful Japanese landowners. Under the Daimyo were the Samurai. The Samurai were soldiers. The Ronin were Samurai who have had misdeeds, losses in battle, or the death of their Daimyo had caused them to lose their position in the hierarchy. The peasants were the people who farmed and tended to the land. They were the majority of the Japanese people. Underneath the Peasants were the Artisans. These were the people who could take materials and craft them into different objects. At the bottom of the social pyramid were the Merchants. These were the people who sold objects made by Artisans and Peasants to make a living, They are at the bottom because they sell objects that other people had to make.
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