Samurai vs. Knights

Samurai vs. Knights

Throughout history, many different societies used feudalism as a form of government. Two such societies that used feudalism for a considerable time were Japan and Europe. Feudalism was a social system that was created during political crisis to maintain peace and order. Correspondingly, there were warriors that enforced this system which were the knights of feudal Europe and samurai of Japan. Although they belonged in different societies and they had different methods of fighting, their role in their societies and their codes of honor were relatively similar, creating more similarities than differences.
Social status was created in feudalism in both Japan and Europe to show how much power one had. The social statuses were very similar as samurai and knights held the same position. For example, they were both above peasantry and below their military leaders in social status. Samurai were “warriors who owed loyalty and military service to daimyos for land or regular payment.” (Document A) Knights were “warriors who owed loyalty and military service to lord for land.” (Document A) This shows how they had similar relations with people belonging to higher social statuses. They both gave service and loyalty to their lords, being the daimyo and lords, and the knights and samurais would receive a reward in return. To become a knight and samurai required similar prerequisites. “The rigorous training of samurai began in childhood. A prospective knight’s training began at age four and five.” (Document C) They both would start their training at a young age, until 14. Though knights are not considered knights yet at 14, they are called a squire, and would also be an official, eligible warrior, just like samurai.
As part of being a knight and samurai, they both had a code of honor, the code of Bushido for knights and the code of Chivalry. Knights would “solemnly promise to do no wicked deed, to be loyal to the King, to give mercy to those asking it, always to be courteous...

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