The Edo period of Japanese history is also called the Tokugawa Period, or the Tokugawa Shogunate. It began in the late sixteenth century with the unification of Japan and continued until 1868 with the Meiji Restoration. The first characteristic of the Edo Period was Japan’s persistent isolationism and refusal to interact with European and American traders, imperialists, and missionaries. The second important characteristic was the distinct lack of military conflict, especially when compared to the feudal nature of Japanese society prior to unification. Unification had been completed under Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Wars between competing Daimyos had been common before the Tokugawa period (which begins at the end of the sixteenth century). After the unification of Japan and the beginning of the Tokugawa Shogunate, however, conflicts between competing landowners became increasingly less common.

The Qing dynasty, which succeeded the Ming Dynasty, durably lasted for over 300 years and expanded to the area that is roughly the territorial boundaries of modern China. Ruled as an absolute monarchy, it was defeated during the Xinhai Revolution in 1912.

Emperor Meiji, who ruled from 1867-1912, oversaw the rapid change of Japan from an agrarian, rural, and feudal society to a modern, capitalist, and industrial society. From his leadership Japan emerged as one of the globes major powers and a huge (and violent) influence in Asian geopolitics.

The phrase “blood and iron” was first used by the Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck to describe how German unification might be achieved through war and industry in the second-half of the nineteenth century. It is generally associated with German unification and with Bismarck’s unique brand of Realpolitik.

While Mussolini, Franco, and Hitler all followed Fascist doctrines, Stalin was a follower of communism. Fascism differs in that it promotes staunch nationalism and authoritarianism whereas communism deals with common ownership of property. European Fascism, especially in Italy, was, as opposed to Communism, tied to corporate business interests.

Juntas emerged as commonplace during the turbulent late 19th and early 20th century throughout the regime changes of Latin American powers. The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican people who were conquered in the 15^th century. Since there have been many polytheistic religions, and most have featured high priests, there are many terms used to describe this position in various cultures, but "junta" is not one of them. Biyelgee is the most famous style of dance developed by Mongolian nomads.

Assuming the office of Prime Minister in 1940 following the resignation of Neville Chamberlin, Winston Churchill was the primary leader of the United Kingdom during the war. Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the leader of the United States. Josef Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union. Albert Francois Lebrun was the leader of the France at the time it surrendered to the Nazi forces. Charles de Gaulle was the leader of the Free French Forces and was considered (by the Allies) the leader in exile of France during the Nazi occupation.

During the World War II, The United States was the largest Capitalist state in the world. At the same time, Germany was run by an autocratic Fascist government in the form of the Nazi party. The Soviet Union also had an autocratic government, but one that ruled using Stalinist Communism as the state ideology.

Tsar Nicholas II of Russia ruled during the last couple decades before World War I. During World War I, the increasingly worsening state of the country created a revolution, resulting in his overthrow and eventual execution by the Bolsheviks.