EXPLORING HISTORY: JAPAN is part of a series describing the history of chosen regions before and after their exploration by Europeans. This book is about exploring the whole history of Japan, from the earliest times, through the periods of its great dynasties, to the time of its exploration by European travellers, right up to the present day. Read about the Japanese Imperial family, Samurai warriors and Zen monks. Discover why Japan shut out all foreigners for more than 200 years from 1639 onwards. Find out how the Japanese have influenced the west, and westerners the Japanese, from the 1850s to the present day.