Do I fit in now? 1of 3

Do I fit in now? 1of 3

In 1250, Kamakura was a bustling, muddy de facto capital of Japan packed with unpaved streets, wooden samurai compounds, and bustling markets. Hemmed in by steep mountain passes and the open sea, the tight valley functioned as an armed military garrison where the air constantly rang with the clatter of horse hooves and the heavy thud of armor.The population consisted of grim, pragmatic warriors and rough laborers serving the ruling shog#unate, living side by side with newly arrived Zen monks. A stark, poignant feature of the cityscape was the open display of criminal execution tokens and severed heads mounted on spikes near crossroads, standing directly adjacent to newly constructed temples dedicated to quiet contemplation and mercy.
In July 1333, a rebel army led by warlord Nitta Yoshisada marched on Kamakura. Surrounded by mountains and the sea, the city was a natural fortress, but Yoshisada bypassed the defenses by marching through the beaches during a low tide.