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he earliest historical records of Japan suggests that by the late third or early fourth century a powerful warrior clan or group of clans living in the Yamato basin, an extremely rich and fertile plain in central Honshu, had subdued chieftains living in other parts of the country by a series of bloody wars. As a result of this conquest, the defeated chieftains acknowledge the hegemony of the chieftain of the Yamato clan.

The Japanese warrior, known as the samurai, has played a significant role in Japan's history and culture throughout the centuries. Their ancestors can be traced back to as far as can be remembered. Some stories have become mysterious legends handed down over the centuries. In this report you will learn who the samurai were, their origins as we know them, how they lived and fought and their evolution to today. It will be clear why the samurai stand out as one of the most famous group of warriors of all times.
Looking back in time, the first Japanese battles recorded are in the first few centuries AD. At this time Japanese warriors went across the sea to Korea to help one kingdom battling two rival kingdoms. Four hundred men set out and fought on foot carrying their bows, spears and swords. They were quickly beaten by warriors attacking on horseback. They probably had never seen an attack like that before, with horses being ridden. Even though there were horses in Japan they had not been used for riding or fighting, but to help in carrying and pulling goods. In the next century, however, there is evidence that horses were being ridden and used in warfare by warriors who would later be called samurai (History Channel).
The term samurai was first used in the 10th century and means "those who serve". In the beginning it stood for men who guarded the capital for the Emperor, somewhere used as tax collectors. Later the word grew to include any military man who served a powerful landlord, almost like a police force for that time. They would go around...