The Kamakura Period (1185-1333) in Japan marked a significant shift in power from the imperial court to the samurai class. This era began after the Genpei War, which led to the establishment of the first shogunate under Minamoto no Yoritomo. The period is characterized by the rise of military governance and the development of a feudal system. During the Kamakura Period, important cultural and religious developments occurred, including the spread of Zen Buddhism and the creation of iconic art forms such as Noh theater. The period ended with the fall of the Kamakura shogunate, leading to the rise of the Ashikaga shogunate.