Japan's Edo Period Is a Double Edged Sword

The edo period lasts from the early 16 hundred til 18 68. The country is nominally run by something called a show gun, translated often as military dictator. During this time period, Japan split up into about roughly 200 separate little areas. Each one of these areas has its local lord, and they raise their own taxes. They owe allegiance to the central government, but have broad ranges of powers.