Drift off to the complete history of the samurai — the legendary warrior class who shaped Japanese civilization for over 600 years. More than just fighters, the samurai developed a complex code of ethics (Bushido), distinctive arts and aesthetics, and ultimately dominated Japanese politics through the shogunate system.

Covered: Origins of the samurai class, the Genpei War and first shogunate, the Mongol invasions, the age of warring states (Sengoku period), legendary figures (Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu), the samurai code of Bushido, the Meiji Restoration and the abolition of the samurai class, and the enduring cultural legacy.

✦ 2-hour deep dive ✦ Calm narration for sleep ✦ Japanese history for sleep

Sleepless History is an educational sleep podcast covering ancient civilizations, world history, and famous historical figures — made to help you fall asleep.