By: Sam T, Elliot K, Khadija M

Artisans: The artisans had

five main crafts. Armorsmiths Swordsmiths Carpenters Roofers Sawyers

Merchants: Classified by what

they sold. Not restricted in

what they sold. They could sell

anything and everything.

Tea Merchants were very common.

Armorsmiths: Made of Bamboo, Leather, Silk, Iron. Flexible enough to be worn in unarmed combat. It took over a year to make one set of armor. Protects the wearer and displays power and

strength. Made by sewing together many layers of leather

with holes punched into it.

Swordsmiths: Were an honored and highly skilled group of artisans. Had to be of the highest moral values because the

personality of the swordsmith was supposed to show in the sword.

They were very hard and sharp with over 12 folds in the metal pounded together.

Two different kinds of steel used in the swords. A harder and a softer steel.

Softer steel in the core harder steel on the outside giving the sword a curved blade.

Designed to slice swiftly and precisely.

Carpenters, Sawyers, and Roofers: Had to work together very closely

because Japanese houses and building were made without nails.

Would spend over a third of their day just sharpening their tools as a form of meditation.

Merchants were very prosperous and rich people. Their business was also helped by the growing

roads and cities which helped them transport goods.

Also they could sell products to travelers on the road.

Sometimes would sell their items while traveling so they would not miss out on sales.

Began to band themselves into trading associations or guilds which were called "za".

Merchants were a very prosperous and rich group of people.

Their business was also helped by the growing roads and cities which helped them transport goods.

Also they could open shops on the road and sell products to travelers.

Merchants would sometimes sell their items while traveling so they would not miss out on sales while they were away from their shops.

Merchants and Artisans eventually began to band themselves into trading associations or guilds which were called "za".

Artisans Artisans were the

second to last class Artisans rarely

became samurai These workers

worked to make life easier for other people.

Merchants Merchant were

viewed as pest and greedy people.

They rarely made anything of there own.

A merchant could never become a samurai.

Artisans Artisans would

travel so they could sell their own goods.

Some artisans were hired by high ranking people and made only made their goods for them.

Merchants Merchant could

either stay within Japan of travel over seas.

They mostly traveled to Korea, South East Asia and China.

Artisans Had shops in the

markets Most did their own selling.

Some artisans sold their items to merchants.

Merchants Sold items in the

markets and the floating worlds.

Merchants bought items from artisans and other people.

The Floating World attracted many people and therefore brought a lot of business for merchants.

Merchants Worked hard to support their family. When the merchant was away, the wife

would step in and run the business. Daughters in the family would go to

school and learn math skills so they could help the family business when they got older.