Our whole series on the samurai can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuFCebpCxd4iXskRq7gemedn EP 1: https://youtu.be/4gMBq1hiiWI EP 2: https://youtu.be/e-s0i_cQaWo EP 3: https://youtu.be/00nEH8kCBsw EP 4: https://youtu.be/XYRqwrDZPQo Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at the⁠restishistory.com⁠ What made the Samurai such elite warriors? How did the Minamoto clan seize control of vast swathes of Japan in the 12th century? And, which of their Samurai rivals would enact their bloody downfall…? 0:00 Samurai Civil War Begins – Taira vs Minamoto 3:20 Warrior Culture vs Courtly Japan 7:05 Samurai Brutality & Beheading Culture 10:59 Power, Honor, and Ruthlessness 14:04 Rise of the Minamoto in Eastern Japan 17:13 Taira Dominate the West & Control Trade 20:43 Crisis in Kyoto After Emperor’s Death 24:13 Palace Coup & Night of Fire 27:04 Minamoto vs Taira Power Struggle 31:17 Kiyomori Takes Control of Japan 34:05 The Fox Legend & Rise of a Tyrant 38:03 Exile of Yoritomo – A Fatal Mistake 42:05 Plot to Overthrow Kiyomori 46:10 Warrior Monks Enter the War 49:00 Battle of Uji Bridge Begins 52:02 Heroic Last Stand on the Bridge 56:02 Birth of Samurai Ritual Suicide 59:14 War Escalates Across Japan 1:02:03 Death of Kiyomori & Omen of Doom Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Social channels: https://www.instagram.com/theresthistory/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theresthistory https://x.com/TheRestHistory https://bsky.app/profile/theresthistory.bsky.social https://www.threads.com/@theresthistory Creative Director of Animation: Michael Sherdyts Lead Animator / Production Lead: Kate Korolko Lead Illustrator: Vadym Berkutenko Illustrator: Viktoria Lafazan Map Animator: Mike Dunakovskiy 3D Artist / Blender Animator: Vishal Dekuzy Video Editor: Jack Meek, Harry Swan & Adam Thornton Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Aaliyah Akude & Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Callum Hill Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley