Unit 20: Paper 3 (HL) — History of Asia & Oceania
Topic 20.2: Japan in the Age of the Samurai (1180–1333) Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB History Topic 20.2. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q11
Which two civil wars in the 1150s allowed Taira no Kiyomori to establish Taira dominance at the Japanese imperial court?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question2Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.2 - Q11
Which weapon was the primary skill of an early Kamakura-period samurai warrior?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question3Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q14
What title did the emperor formally grant Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1192?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question4Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q15
What was the main purpose of the gokenin in the Kamakura Shogunate?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question5Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.2 - Q15
Which weapon was particularly associated with samurai women defending the household?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question6Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q12
In 1180, whose call to arms against the Taira triggered the start of the Gempei War?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question7Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.2 - Q14
Approximately how large was the Mongol-led invasion fleet that attacked Japan in 1281, compared with 1274?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question8Examine15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q1
Examine the causes of the Gempei War (1180-1185) in Japan.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question9Evaluate15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q2
Evaluate the reasons for the Minamoto victory over the Taira in the Gempei War (1180-1185).
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question10Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.2 - Q12
What was the Goseibai Shikimoku, issued in 1232?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question11Discuss15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q3
Discuss the significance of the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate for the government of Japan.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question12Compare and contrast15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q5
Compare and contrast the rise to power of Minamoto no Yoritomo in Japan (1180-1192) with the rise to power of Genghis Khan among the Mongol tribes (to 1206).
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question13Analyse15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q6
Analyse the impact of the Gempei War (1180-1185) on the position of the Japanese emperor.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question14Examine15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q7
Examine the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune in the defeat of the Taira clan.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question15Discuss15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q8
Discuss the reasons for the decline of the Taira clan's dominance over the Japanese imperial court.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question16To what extent15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q4
To what extent was Minamoto no Yoritomo personally responsible for the creation of samurai-led government in Japan?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question17Evaluate15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q9
Evaluate the view that the Kamakura Shogunate represented a complete break from previous forms of government in Japan.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question18Compare and contrast15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q10
Compare and contrast the methods used by Taira no Kiyomori and Minamoto no Yoritomo to establish and maintain political power in Japan.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question19Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.1 - Q13
Which battle in 1185 finally destroyed the Taira clan as a political and military force?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question20Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 20.2.2 - Q13
Who was the Kamakura Shogunate's regent who refused Kublai Khan's demand for submission and led Japan's resistance to the Mongol invasions?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock QuestionReady to practice Topic 20.2?
Get instant AI feedback on your answers, view detailed markschemes, and track your progress across all IB History topics.