The Japanese called their emperor “The Son of Heaven/Go-Toba” and thought the first emperor was the grandson of the sun goddess. Even so, he was eventually reduced to a religious figurehead rather than a ruler with real power to govern. Who had real power to govern Japan, and how did they maintain control?

pepin the short[a] (german: pippin der kurze, french: pépin le bref, c. 714 – 24 september 768) was the king of the franks from 751 until his death. he was the first of the carolingians to become king.[b][2]

the younger son of the frankish prince charles martel and his wife rotrude, pepin's upbringing was distinguished by the ecclesiastical education he had received from the monks of st. denis. succeeding his father as the mayor of the palace in 741, pepin reigned over francia jointly with his elder brother carloman. pepin ruled in neustria, burgundy, and provence, while his brother carloman established himself in austrasia, alemannia and thuringia. the brothers were active in suppressing revolts led by the bavarians, aquitanians, saxons, and the alemanni in the early years of their reign. in 743, they ended the frankish interregnum by choosing childeric iii, who was to be the last merovingian monarch, as figurehead king of the franks.

interdependence is when all participating groups and individuals depend on each other. if you depend on one anothers goods, you end up trading in order to get the items you're looking for. (for ex: if i have food and you have water, we trade in order to depend on each other to live)