The Edo period (1603-1868) was a time of peace and stability in Japan, marked by the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate. This era began when Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan after a long period of civil war. The shogunate established a strict social hierarchy and limited foreign influence, leading to a unique Japanese culture. During the Edo period, cities like Edo (now Tokyo) flourished, and arts such as ukiyo-e (woodblock printing) and kabuki theater became popular. The period ended with the Meiji Restoration, which restored imperial rule and initiated modernization in Japan.