The Tokugawa shogunate was a feudal military government in Japan that lasted from 1603 to 1868. Founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu, it established a period of relative peace and stability known as the Edo period. The shogunate centralized power, controlling the daimyos (feudal lords) and enforcing strict social hierarchies. During this time, Japan experienced economic growth, cultural development, and isolation from foreign influence. The sakoku policy restricted trade and contact with the outside world, allowing the shogunate to maintain control. The Tokugawa shogunate ended with the Meiji Restoration, which restored imperial rule and modernized Japan.