The history of Korea stretches from Lower Paleolithic times to the present. Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁 Gyeongbokgung) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. The Lower Paleolithic (or Lower Palaeolithic) is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. ^[1] The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BCE, and the Neolithic period began before 6000 BCE, followed by the Bronze Age around 2500 BCE. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for The Gojoseon (Old Joseon) kingdom was founded in 2333 BCE, eventually stretching from the peninsula to much of Manchuria. Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom considered the first proper nation of the Korean people. ^[2] By 3rd Century BCE, it disintegrated into many successor states.

In the early Common Era, the Three Kingdoms (Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje) conquered other successor states of Gojoseon and came to dominate the peninsula and much of Manchuria. The Three Kingdoms of Korea ( refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea The three kingdoms competed with each other both economically and militarily. While Goguryeo and Baekje were more powerful for much of the era (especially Goguryeo, which defeated massive Chinese invasions) Silla's power gradually extended across Korea and it eventually established the first unified state to cover most of Korean peninsula by 676, while former Goguryeo general Dae Jo-yeong founded Balhae as the successor to Goguryeo. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Alternate meaning Bohai Sea Balhae (698 - 926 ( Bohai in Chinese, Пархэ in Russian) was an

Unified Silla itself fell apart in the late 9th century, giving way to the tumultuous Later Three Kingdoms period (892-936), which ended with the establishment of the Goryeo Dynasty. Unified Silla ( 668 CE - 935 CE or Later Silla is the name often applied to the kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of The Later Three Kingdoms of Korea (892 - 936 consisted of Silla, Hubaekje ("Later Baekje " and Taebong (also known as Hugoguryeo The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. After the fall of Balhae in 926 to Khitan, much of its people led by the Crown Prince Dae Gwang-hyeon were absorbed into Goryeo. The Khitan (or Khitai,) were a Nomadic people, located in Mongolia and modern Manchuria (Northeast China from the 4th century dominating much of it Dae Gwang-hyeon (대광현 大光顯 ? ~ ? was a member of the Balhae Royal Family and was the leader of the Balhae Refugees who sought refuge in the Korean During the Goryeo period, laws were codified, a civil service system was introduced, and Buddhism flourished. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices In 993 - 1019 Khitan Liao Dynasty invaded Goryeo and were repelled. Events By Topic Religion July 4 — Saint Ulrich of Augsburg is canonized In 1238, the Mongolian Empire invaded and after nearly thirty years of war, the two sides signed a peace treaty. The Mongol Empire ( Mongolyn Ezent Güren or mn Их Mонгол улс Ikh Mongol Uls; 1206–1368 was the largest contiguous Empire The Mongol invasions of Korea (1231 - 1273 consisted of a series of campaigns by the Mongol Empire against Korea, then known as Goryeo, from 1231 to 1259

In 1392, the general Yi Seong-gye established the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) after a coup. Taejo of Joseon ( October 11, 1335 &ndash May 24, 1408; r 1392-1398 born Yi Seong-gye, whose changed name is Yi Dan, was King Sejong the Great (1418-1450) promulgated hangul, the Korean alphabet. Between 1592-1598, Japan invaded Korea, but was eventually repelled with the efforts by the Navy led by Admiral Yi Sun-shin, resistance armies, and Chinese aid. Two Japanese invasions of Korea and subsequent battles on the Korean peninsula took place during the years 1592-1598 Yi Sun-sin (April 28 1545 – December 16 1598 also commonly transliterated Yi Soon-shin or Lee Sun-shin, Korean:이순신 was a Korean In the 1620s and 1630s, Joseon suffered invasions by the Manchu Qing Dynasty. The Manchu people ( Manchu: Manju;, Mongolian: Манж Russian: Маньчжуры are a Tungusic people who originated in Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China

Beginning in the 1870s, Japan began to force Korea out of China's sphere of influence into its own. In 1895, Empress Myeongseong of Korea was assassinated by Japanese agents. Empress Myeongseong ( October 19, 1851 &ndash October 8, 1895) was the first official wife of King Gojong, the 26th king of the ^[3] In 1905, Japan forced Korea to sign the Eulsa Treaty making Korea a protectorate, and in 1910 annexed Korea, although neither is considered to be legally valid. The Eulsa Treaty or Japan-Korea Protectorate Treaty was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire on 17 November 1905 The Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty was signed on August 22, 1910 by the representatives of the Korean and Japanese Imperial Governments and was ^[4] Korean resistance to the Japanese occupation was manifested in the massive nonviolent March 1st Movement of 1919. The March First Movement, or Samil Movement, was one of the earliest displays of Korean independence movements during the Japanese occupation of Korea Thereafter the Korean liberation movement, coordinated by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in exile, was largely active in neighboring Manchuria, China and Siberia. The Korean independence movement grew out the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1910-1945 The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was a Government in exile based in Shanghai, China and later in Chongqing, during the Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving

With the defeat of Japan in 1945, the United Nations developed plans for a trusteeship administration by the Soviet Union and the United States, but the plan was soon abandoned. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In 1948, new governments were established, the democratic South Korea and Communist North Korea divided at the 38th parallel. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, The unresolved tensions of the division surfaced in the Korean war of 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea.

History of Korea
Prehistory  Jeulmun period  Mumun period Gojoseon 2333-108 BC  Jin state Proto-Three Kingdoms: 108-57 BC  Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye  Samhan: Ma, Byeon, Jin Three Kingdoms: 57 BC - 668 AD  Goguryeo 37 BC - 668 AD   Sui wars  Baekje 18 BC - 660 AD  Silla 57 BC - 935 AD  Gaya 42-562 North-South States: 698-935  Unified Silla 668-935  Balhae 698-926 Later Three Kingdoms 892-935 Goryeo 918-1392  Khitan wars  Mongol invasions Joseon 1392-1897  Japanese invasions 1592-1598  Manchu invasions Korean Empire 1897–1910 Japanese rule 1910–1945  Provisional Gov't 1919-1948 Division of Korea 1945–1948 North, South Korea 1948–present  Korean War 1950–1953
List of monarchs Timeline Military history Naval history Science and technology in Korea
Korea Portal This box: view • talk • edit

Contents 1 Prehistory 1.1 Jeulmun Pottery Period 1.2 Mumun Pottery Period 2 Gojoseon 2.1 Bronze culture 2.2 Iron culture 2.3 Decline and fall 3 Proto-Three Kingdoms 3.1 Buyeo and other Northern states 3.2 Samhan 4 Three Kingdoms period 4.1 Goguryeo 4.2 Baekje 4.3 Shinla 4.4 Gaya 5 North and South States 5.1 Unified Shinla 5.2 Balhae 5.3 Later Three Kingdoms 6 Goryeo 7 Joseon 7.1 Economy 7.2 Social hierarchy 7.3 Foreign invasions 8 19th century 8.1 French Invasion (1866) 8.2 US Korean expedition (1871) 8.3 Japanese penetration 8.4 Korean Empire 9 Japanese occupation 10 The division of Korea 11 Notes 12 References 13 See also 14 External links

Prehistory

Main article: Prehistoric Korea

Archaeological evidence shows that hominids first inhabited the Korean Peninsula 700,000 years ago, though some North Koreans claim it may have been inhabited for 1,000,000 years. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos A hominid is any member of the biological family Hominidae (the "great apes" including the extinct and extant Humans Chimpanzees Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are ^[5] Tool-making artifacts from the Palaeolithic period (700,000 BC to 40,000 BC) have been found in present-day North Hamgyong, South P'yongan, Gyeonggi, and north and south Chungcheong Provinces. The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone" North Hamgyŏng ( Hamgyŏng-pukto) is a province of North Korea. South P'yŏngan ( P'yŏngan-namdo) is a province of North Korea. Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Chungcheong ( Chungcheong-do) was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The people were cave dwellers and built homes, using fire for cooking food and warmth. They hunted, gathered and fished with stone tools.

Jeulmun Pottery Period

Main article: Jeulmun pottery period

The earliest known Korean pottery dates back to around 8000 BC. The Jeulmun Pottery Period is an archaeological era in Korean prehistory that dates to approximately 8000-1500 B Korean ceramic history begins with the oldest Earthenware from around 8000 BC or before, and evidence of Mesolithic Pit-Comb Ware culture or Yungimun Pottery is found throughout the peninsula. The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age Pit-Comb Ware culture redirects here For the contemporary (ca An example of a Yungimun-era site is the Gosan-ni in Jeju-do. Jeju-do ( transliterated Korean for Jeju Province, short form of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province) is the only special self-governing province Jeulmun or Comb-pattern Pottery is found after 7000 BC, and pottery with comb-patterns over the whole vessel is found concentrated at sites in West-central Korea between 3500-2000 BC, a time when a number of settlements such as Amsa-dong existed. Jeulmun pottery bears basic design and form similarities to the Jōmon culture in Japan and to that of the Russian Maritime Province, Mongolia, and the Amur and Sungari River basins of Manchuria. The is the time in Japanese prehistory from about 14000 BC to 400 BC. Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East The Songhua River (also known as the Sungari River in English a name which comes from the Manchu language meaning White River) is a River in Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast ^[6][7]

Mumun Pottery Period

Main article: Mumun pottery period

Archaeological evidence demonstrates that agricultural societies and the earliest forms of social-political complexity emerged in the Mumun Pottery Period (c. The Mumun pottery period is an Archaeological era in Korean prehistory that dates to approximately 1500-300 BC The Mumun pottery period is an Archaeological era in Korean prehistory that dates to approximately 1500-300 BC 1500-300 BC). People in southern Korea adopted intensive dry-field and paddy-field agriculture with a multitude of crops in the Early Mumun Period (1500-850 BC). A paddy field is a flooded parcel of Arable land used for growing Rice and other semiaquatic crops. The first societies led by big-men or chiefs emerged in the Middle Mumun (850-550 BC), and the first ostentatious elite burials can be traced to the Late Mumun (c. 550-300 BC). Bronze production began in the Middle Mumun and became increasingly important in Mumun ceremonial and political society after 700 BC The Mumun is the first time that villages rose, became large, and then fell: some important examples include Songguk-ri, Daepyeong, and Igeum-dong. Songguk-ri (soŋɡuŋni is a Middle and Late Mumun period (c 850-300 B Daepyeong is the name of a complex prehistoric Archaeological site located in the Nam River valley near Jinju in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea Igeum-dong is a complex Archaeological site located in Igeum-dong Samcheonpo in Sacheon -si South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The increasing presence of long-distance trade, an increase in local conflicts, and the introduction of bronze and iron metallurgy are trends denoting the end of the Mumun around 300 BC.

Gojoseon

Main article: Gojoseon

Gojoseon was the first Korean kingdom. Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom considered the first proper nation of the Korean people. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. According to the Samguk Yusa and other Korean medieval-era records,^[8] Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BC by the legendary Dangun, said to be descended from the Lord of Heaven. Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends folktales and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea ( Goguryeo The 24th century BC is a Century which lasted from the year 2400 BC to 2301 BC Dangun Wanggeom was the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom around present-day Liaoning, Manchuria, and the Korean

The people of Gojoseon were the descendants of migrating Altaic tribes that settled in Manchuria, far eastern China north of the Yangtze River, and the Korean Peninsula. Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National They are the first direct Korean ancestral line recorded in writing. ^[9]

Initially, Gojoseon was probably located in Liaoning, but around 400 BC, moved its capital to Pyongyang, the capital of modern North Korea. Events By place Persian Empire Artaxerxes II King of Persia appoints Tissaphernes to take over all the districts in Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, ^[10][11]

Bronze culture

The Bronze Age is often held to have begun around 1500 – 1000 BCE in Korea, though recent archaeological evidence suggests it might have started as far back as 2500 BCE. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for ^[12] Bronze daggers, mirrors, and weaponry have been found, as well as evidence of walled-town polities. ^[13] Rice, red beans, soybeans and millet were cultivated, and rectangular pit-houses and increasingly larger dolmen burial sites are found throughout the peninsula. A dolmen (also known as cromlech, anta, Hünengrab, Hunebed, Goindol, quoit, and portal dolmen) is a type of [6] Contemporaneous records suggest that Gojoseon transitioned from a feudal federation of walled cities into a centralised kingdom at least before the 4th century BCE. ^[14]

Iron culture

It is believed that by the third century BCE, iron culture was developing and the warring states of China pushed refugees eastward and south. Recently however, an iron mirror has been found in Songseok-ri Kangdong-gun Pyongyang in North Korea,^[15] that may have originated from 1200 BCE.

Around this time, a state called Jin arose in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. Jin state was an early Iron Age state which occupied some portion of the southern Korean peninsula during the 2nd and 3rd centuries BCE bordering the Korean Very little is known about Jin, but it established relations with Han China and exported artifacts to the Yayoi of Japan. The is an era in the history of Japan from about 500 BC to 300 AD. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. ^[16] A king of Gija Joseon may have fled to Jin after a coup by Wiman. Wei Man, known as Wi Man in Korean, was a prince from the State of Yan of China who established a kingdom in north-western Korea in Jin later evolved into the Samhan confederacies. Samhan refers to the ancient confederacies of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan in central and southern Korean peninsula

Later the Han Dynasty defeated the Wiman Joseon and set up Four Commanderies of Han. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Wiman Joseon (194 - 108 BC was the part of the Gojoseon period (2333 BC - 108 BC of Korean history. The Four Commanderies of Han (漢四郡 한사군 are Lelang, Lintun, Xuantu and Zhenfan commanderies in the western Korean peninsula

Decline and fall

The course of the decline and fall of Gojoseon is in dispute, depending on how historians view Gija Joseon. Gija Joseon (? - 194 BC describes the period after the alleged arrival of Gija in northern (or in the northwest of Korean peninsula. The theory suggested by Joseon Sangosa is that Gojoseon disintegrated by about 300 BCE as it gradually lost the control of its former fiefs. Joseon Sanggosa is a book written in 1931 by Sin Chaeho, and which describes the ancient history of Korea Many smaller states sprang from the former territory of Gojoseon such as Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, Guda-guk, Galsa-guk, Gaema-guk, and Hangin-guk. Buyeo, Puyŏ, or Fuyu was an ancient Korean kingdom located from today's Manchuria to northern North Korea, from around the 2nd Okjeo was a small tribal state which arose in the northern Korean peninsula from perhaps 2nd century BCE to 5th century CE Dongye was a state which occupied portions of the northeastern Korean peninsula from roughly 150 BCE to around 400 CE Goguryeo and Baekje descended from Buyeo. Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea The Three Kingdoms refer to Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, although Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy existed into 5th and 6th centuries respectively. The Three Kingdoms of Korea ( refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Gaya was a confederacy of territorial polities in the Nakdong River basin of southern Korea, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy of the Samhan

Proto-Three Kingdoms

Main article: Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea

The Proto-Three Kingdoms period, sometimes called the Several States Period (열국시대), is the time before the rise of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, which included Goguryeo, Shinla, and Baekje, and occurred after the fall of Gojoseon. The Three Kingdoms of Korea ( refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom considered the first proper nation of the Korean people. This time period consisted of numerous states that sprang up from the former territories of Gojoseon. Among these states, the largest and most influential were Dongbuyeo and Bukbuyeo. Dongbuyeo (86 BCE - 22 CE or 410 CE was an ancient Korean kingdom that developed from Bukbuyeo, until conquered by the early Goguryeo, which then grew into Bukbuyeo ( Hangul: 북부여 Hanja: 北夫餘 (239 BCE - 58 BCE was an ancient Korean kingdom that was located and ruled in Manchuria.

Buyeo and other Northern states

Main article: Buyeo Kingdom

After the fall of Gojoseon, Buyeo arose in today's North Korea and southern Manchuria, from about the 2nd century BC to 494. Buyeo, Puyŏ, or Fuyu was an ancient Korean kingdom located from today's Manchuria to northern North Korea, from around the 2nd Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom considered the first proper nation of the Korean people. Buyeo, Puyŏ, or Fuyu was an ancient Korean kingdom located from today's Manchuria to northern North Korea, from around the 2nd North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast The 2nd century BC started the first day of 200 BC and ended the last day of 101 BC. Events By Place Byzantine Empire An earthquake devastates Latakia. Its remnants were absorbed by Goguryeo in 494, and both Goguryeo and Baekje, two of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, considered themselves its successor. Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea The Three Kingdoms of Korea ( refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula

Although records are sparse and contradictory, it is thought that in 86 BCE, Dongbuyeo (East Buyeo) branched out, after which the original Buyeo is sometimes referred to as Bukbuyeo (North Buyeo). Dongbuyeo (86 BCE - 22 CE or 410 CE was an ancient Korean kingdom that developed from Bukbuyeo, until conquered by the early Goguryeo, which then grew into Bukbuyeo ( Hangul: 북부여 Hanja: 北夫餘 (239 BCE - 58 BCE was an ancient Korean kingdom that was located and ruled in Manchuria. Jolbon Buyeo was the predecessor to Goguryeo, and in 538, Baekje renamed itself Nambuyeo (South Buyeo). Jolbon or Jolbon Buyeo (부여 or 졸본부여 86 BCE - 37 BCE) was a continuation of Bukbuyeo under a changed state name after 86 BCE Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and

Okjeo was a tribal state that was located in the northern Korean Peninsula, and was established after the fall of Gojoseon. Okjeo was a small tribal state which arose in the northern Korean peninsula from perhaps 2nd century BCE to 5th century CE Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are Okjeo had been a part of Gojoseon before its fall. It never became a fully-developed kingdom due to the intervention of its neighboring kingdoms. Okjeo became a tributary of Goguryeo, and was eventually annexed into Goguryeo by Gwanggaeto Taewang in the 5th century.

Dongye was another small kingdom that was situated in the northern Korean Peninsula. Dongye was a state which occupied portions of the northeastern Korean peninsula from roughly 150 BCE to around 400 CE Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are Dongye bordered Okjeo, and the two kingdoms faced the same fate of becoming tributaries of the growing empire of Goguryeo. Okjeo was a small tribal state which arose in the northern Korean peninsula from perhaps 2nd century BCE to 5th century CE Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Dongye was also a former part of Gojoseon before its fall. Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom considered the first proper nation of the Korean people.

Samhan

Main article: Samhan

Samhan (三韓) refers to the three confederacies of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. Samhan refers to the ancient confederacies of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan in central and southern Korean peninsula Jinhan was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the 1st century BC to the 4th century CE in the southern Korean peninsula, to the east of the Nakdong Byeonhan, also known as Byeonjin, was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the beginning of the Common Era to the 4th century in the The Samhan were located in the southern region of the Korean Peninsula. Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are These three confederacies eventually become the foundations, at which Baekje, Shinla, and Gaya were established. Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea Mahan was the largest and consisted of 54 states. Byeonhan and Jinhan both consisted of 12 states, bringing a total of 78 states within the Samhan. The term "Samhan" is later used to describe the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The Three Kingdoms of Korea ( refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula

Today, the hanja name for Korea comes from the hanja of Samhan (韓). Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated

Three Kingdoms period

Main article: Three Kingdoms of Korea

Goguryeo

Main article: Goguryeo

Goguryeo was founded the earliest and was the largest of the three kingdoms. It was founded in 37 BC by Jumong (posthumous name Dongmyeongseong). King Dongmyeong of Goguryeo (58 - 19 BCE r 37 – 19 BCE"Dongmyeongseongwang"(東明聖王 also known by his birth name Jumong, was the founding Monarch Later, King Taejo centralized the government. King Taejo of Goguryeo (47? - 165 r 53 - 146 was the sixth monarch of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Goguryeo was also the first Korean kingdom to adopt Buddhism as the state religion in 372, under King Sosurim reign. King Sosurim of Goguryeo (?-384 r 371-384 was the 17th ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Goguryeo reached its zenith in the fifth century, when reign of the King Gwanggaeto and his son, King Jangsu expanded into almost all of Manchuria and part of inner Mongolia, and took the Seoul region from Baekje. King Jangsu of Goguryeo (394 - 491 r 413 - 491 was the 20th Monarch of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. Gwanggaeto and Jangsu subdued Baekje and Silla during their times.

Goguryeo later fought and defeated massive Chinese invasions in the Goguryeo-Sui War of 598 - 614, contributing to Sui's fall, and continued to repel the Tang dynasty^[17] under several important generals including Yeon Gaesomun and Yang Manchun. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Events Battle of Catraeth at Catterick North Yorkshire: The Celtic British (Brythonic people defeat the Anglo-Saxon Bernicians (approximate Events By Place Europe The Palace of Diocletian is damaged by the Avars who sack nearby Salona. The Sui Dynasty ( 581 - 618 AD and in the undertaking of other construction projects including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by For the historical Drama, see Yeon Gaesomun (TV series. Yeon Gaesomun (603 - 666 was a powerful and controversial military dictator Yang Manchun is the name given to the Goguryeo commander of Ansi fortress in the 640s.

However, numerous wars with China exhausted Goguryeo and it fell into a weak state. After internal power struggles, it was conquered by an allied Silla-Tang forces in 668.

Baekje

Main article: Baekje

Baekje's foundation by King Onjo in 18 BCE [7], as stated in the Samguk Sagi followed those of its neighbors and rivals, Goguryeo and Silla. Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea Samguk Sagi ( History of the Three Kingdoms) is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and

The Sanguo Zhi mentions Baekje as a member of the Mahan confederacy in the Han River basin (near present-day Seoul). The Records of Three Kingdoms ( is the official and authoritative historical text on the period of Three Kingdoms covering from 189 to 280, Mahan was a loose confederacy of statelets that existed from around the 100BCE-300CE in the southern Korean peninsula in the Chungcheong Han River is in South Korea is the confluence of the Namhan River (South Han River which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. It expanded into the southwest (Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces) of the peninsula and became a significant political and military power. Chungcheong ( Chungcheong-do) was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Jeolla ( Jeolla-do in Korean formerly spelled Cholla or Chŏlla) was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty In the process, Baekje came into fierce confrontation with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies in the vicinity of its territorial ambitions.

At its peak in the 4th century, it had absorbed all of the Mahan states and subjugated most of the western Korean peninsula (including the moder provinces of Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Jeolla, as well as part of Hwanghae and Gangwon) to a centralized government. Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Chungcheong ( Chungcheong-do) was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Jeolla ( Jeolla-do in Korean formerly spelled Cholla or Chŏlla) was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty Haixi redirects here For the automobile manufacturer see Huanghai Bus Factory. Baekje acquired Chinese culture and technology through contacts with the Southern Dynasties during the expansion of its territory. The Southern dynasties 南朝 ( nanchao in Pinyin: nán cháo comprise the Liu Song, Southern Qi, Liang Dynasty and Chen

Baekje played a fundamental role in transmitting cultural developments, such as Chinese characters, Buddhism, iron-making, advanced pottery, and ceremonial burial into ancient Japan. A Chinese character, also known as a Han character ( is a Logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi Japanese ( Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Pottery is the Ceramic ware made by potters It also refers to a group of materials that includes Earthenware, Stoneware For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. ^[18] Other aspects of culture were also transmitted when the Baekje court retreated to Japan after Baekje was conquered. Baekje was defeated by a coalition of Silla and Tang Dynasty forces in 660. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by

Shinla

Main article: Silla

According to legend, the kingdom Silla began with the unification of six chiefdoms of the Jinhan confederacy by Bak Hyeokgeose in 57 BCE, in the southeastern area of Korea. Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Jinhan was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the 1st century BC to the 4th century CE in the southern Korean peninsula, to the east of the Nakdong Hyeokgeose of Silla (69 BCE - 4 CE r 57 BCE&ndash4 CE commonly called Park Hyeokgeose, was the founding monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea Its territory included the present-day port city of Busan, and Silla later emerged as a sea power responsible for destroying Japanese pirates, especially during the Unified Silla period. Unified Silla ( 668 CE - 935 CE or Later Silla is the name often applied to the kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of

Silla artifacts, including unique gold metalwork, show influence from the northern nomadic steppes, with less Chinese influence than are shown by Goguryeo and Baekje. Silla expanded rapidly by occupying the Han River basin and uniting the city states. Han River is in South Korea is the confluence of the Namhan River (South Han River which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River

By the 2nd century, Silla existed as a large state, occupying and influencing nearby city states. Silla began to gain power when it annexed in 562 the Gaya confederacy, between Baekje and Silla. Gaya was a confederacy of territorial polities in the Nakdong River basin of southern Korea, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy of the Samhan Silla often faced pressure from Baekje and Japan, and at various times allied and warred with Baekje and Goguryeo.

In 660, King Muyeol of Silla ordered his armies to attack Baekje. King Taejong Muyeol (602 &ndash 661 Birth name Kim Chunchu) was the 29th monarch of the southern Korean kingdom of Silla and ruled from 654 to 661 Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea General Kim Yu-shin, aided by Tang forces, conquered Baekje. Kim Yusin (595-673 was a General in 7th-century Silla. He led the unification of the Korean peninsula by Silla under the reign of King The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by In 661, Silla and Tang moved on Goguryeo but were repelled. Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and King Munmu, son of Muyeol and nephew of General Kim launched another campaign in 667 and Goguryeo fell in the following year. Munmu of Silla (reigned 661 &ndash 681) was the thirtieth king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.

Gaya

Main article: Gaya confederacy

Gaya was a confederacy of chiefdoms in the Nakdong River valley of southern Korea, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy of the Samhan period. Gaya was a confederacy of territorial polities in the Nakdong River basin of southern Korea, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy of the Samhan Gaya was a confederacy of territorial polities in the Nakdong River basin of southern Korea, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy of the Samhan The Nakdong River ( Rakdong in North Korean is the longest River in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Byeonhan, also known as Byeonjin, was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the beginning of the Common Era to the 4th century in the Samhan refers to the ancient confederacies of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan in central and southern Korean peninsula In 562, Gaya ultimately was absorbed into Silla. Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

North and South States

Main article: North South States Period

The term North-South States refers to Unified Silla and Balhae, during the time when Silla controlled the Korean peninsula while Balhae expanded into Manchuria. North South States Period ( 698 CE - 936 CE refers to the period in Korean history when Silla and Balhae Unified Silla ( 668 CE - 935 CE or Later Silla is the name often applied to the kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Alternate meaning Bohai Sea Balhae (698 - 926 ( Bohai in Chinese, Пархэ in Russian) was an Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast During this time, culture and technology significantly advanced, especially in Unified Shinla.

Unified Shinla

Main article: Unified Silla

After the unification wars, the Tang Dynasty established territories in the former Goguryeo, and began to administer and establish communities in Baekje. Silla attacked the Chinese in Baekje and northern Korea in 671. ^[17]

China then invaded Silla in 674 but led by General Kim Yu-shin, Silla defeated the Chinese army in the north. Kim Yusin (595-673 was a General in 7th-century Silla. He led the unification of the Korean peninsula by Silla under the reign of King Silla drove the Tang forces out of the peninsula by 676 to achieve unification of most of the Three Kingdoms.

Unified Silla was a time when Korean arts flourished dramatically and Buddhism became a large part of Silla culture. Buddhist monasteries such as the Bulguksa are examples of advanced Korean architecture and Buddhist influence. Bulguksa is a Buddhist temple in the North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. State-sponsored art and architecture from this period include Hwangnyongsa Temple, Bunhwangsa Temple, and Seokguram Grotto, a World Heritage Site. Hwangnyongsa is the name of a former Buddhist temple in the city of Gyeongju, South Korea. Bunhwangsa (literally "Fragrant Emperor Temple" is a temple complex from the Old Silla era of Korea The Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage and part of the Bulguksa temple complex A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Unified Silla was also a time of peace, as the Song Dynasty of China was nonaggressive. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms The Song was also an important trading partner with Silla.

Silla began to experience political troubles in 780. This severely weakened Silla and soon thereafter, descendants of the former Baekje established Later Baekje. In the north, rebels revived Goguryeo, beginning the Later Three Kingdoms period. The Later Three Kingdoms of Korea (892 - 936 consisted of Silla, Hubaekje ("Later Baekje " and Taebong (also known as Hugoguryeo ^[17]

Unified Silla lasted for 267 years until, under King Gyeongsun, it was replaced by Goryeo in 935. Gyeongsun of Silla (d 978 r 927-935 was the 56th and final ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. ^[19]

Balhae

Main article: Balhae

Balhae was founded in the northern part of former lands of Goguryeo by Dae Joyeong, a former Goguryeo general. Alternate meaning Bohai Sea Balhae (698 - 926 ( Bohai in Chinese, Пархэ in Russian) was an Balhae controlled the northernmost areas of the Korean Peninsula, much of Manchuria (though it didn't occupy Liaodong peninsula for much of history), and expanded into present-day Russian Maritime Province. Primorsky Krai (Примо́рский край also known as Primorye (ru Примо́рье is a federal subject of Russia (a Krai) Balhae styled itself as Goguryeo's successor state. Succession of states is a theory in International relations regarding the recognition and acceptance of a newly created State by other states based on It also adapted from the Tang Empire, for example in the layout of its capitals.

In a time of relative peace and stability in the region, Balhae culture flourished, especially during the long reign of the third Emperor Mun (r. Dae Heummu (r 737-793 was the personal name of Emperor Mun, the third and longest-reigning ruler of the kingdom of Balhae, the successor state to Goguryeo 737-793). Like Silla culture, the culture of Balhae was strongly influenced by Buddhism. However, Balhae was severely weakened by the tenth century, and the Khitan Liao Dynasty conquered Balhae in 926. The Khitan (or Khitai,) were a Nomadic people, located in Mongolia and modern Manchuria (Northeast China from the 4th century dominating much of it

No historical records from Balhae have survived, and the Liao left no histories of Balhae. Goryeo (see below) absorbed some Balhae territory and received Balhae refugees, including the crown prince and the royal family, but compiled no known histories of Balhae either. The Samguk Sagi ("History of the Three Kingdoms"), for instance, includes passages on Balhae, but does not include a dynastic history of Balhae. Samguk Sagi ( History of the Three Kingdoms) is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and The eighteenth century Joseon dynasty historian Yu Deukgong advocated the proper study of Balhae as part of Korean history, and coined the term "North and South States Period" to refer to this era. Yu Deuk-gong (1749–1807 was a Korean scholar during the Joseon Dynasty.

Later Three Kingdoms

Main article: Later Three Kingdoms

The Later Three Kingdoms (892 - 936) consisted of Silla, Hubaekje ("Later Baekje"), and Taebong (also known as Hugoguryeo, "Later Goguryeo"). The Later Three Kingdoms of Korea (892 - 936 consisted of Silla, Hubaekje ("Later Baekje " and Taebong (also known as Hugoguryeo Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Hubaekje, or Later Baekje, was one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, along with Hugoguryeo and Silla. Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea Taebong or Later Goguryeo was a state established by Gung Ye (궁예 弓裔 on the Korean peninsula in 901, during the Later Three Kingdoms Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and The latter two, established as Unified Silla declined in power, were viewed as heirs to the earlier Three Kingdoms of Korea. Unified Silla ( 668 CE - 935 CE or Later Silla is the name often applied to the kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of The Three Kingdoms of Korea ( refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula

Taebong (Later Goguryeo) was originally led by Gung Ye, a Buddhist monk who founded Later Goguryeo. Taebong or Later Goguryeo was a state established by Gung Ye (궁예 弓裔 on the Korean peninsula in 901, during the Later Three Kingdoms The unpopular Gung Ye was deposed by Wang Geon (877-943) in 918, when Gung Ye killed his wife and son. Taejo of Goryeo ( January 31, 877 - July 4, 943, r 918-943 was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty which ruled Korea from ^[20] Wang Geon was popular with his people, and he decided to unite the entire peninsula under one government. He attacked Later Baekje in 934 and received the surrender of Shinla in the following year. In 936, Goryeo conquered Later Baekje.

Goryeo

Main article: Goryeo

Goryeo was founded in 918 and by 936, replaced Silla as the ruling dynasty of Korea. The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. ("Goryeo" is a short form of "Goguryeo" and the source of the English name "Korea. ") The dynasty lasted until 1392. During this period laws were codified, and a civil service system was introduced. Buddhism flourished, and spread throughout the peninsula. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The development of celadon industry flourished in 12th and 13th century. Celadon is a term for Ceramics denoting both a type glaze, and a ware of a specific color also called celadon. The publication of Tripitaka Koreana, and world's first metal printing technology in 13th century, attests to Goryeo's cultural achievements. The Tripitaka Koreana (lit Goryeo Tripitaka) or Palman Daejanggyeong ("Eighty-Thousand Tripitaka "

In 1231 the Mongols began its campaigns against Korea and after 25 years of struggle, the royal family relented by signing a treaty with the Mongols. The Mongol invasions of Korea (1231 - 1273 consisted of a series of campaigns by the Mongol Empire against Korea, then known as Goryeo, from 1231 to 1259 For the following 80 years Goryeo survived, but under the interference of the Mongols. In the 1340s, the Mongol Empire declined rapidly due to internal struggles. King Gongmin was free at last to reform a Goryeo government. King Gongmin (1330 &ndash 1374 ruled Goryeo ( Korea) from 1351 until 1374 Gongmin had various problems that needed to be dealt with, which included the removal of pro-Mongol aristocrats and military officials, the question of land holding, and quelling the growing animosity between the Buddhists and Confucian scholars.

Another problem was that "Japanese" pirates were now organizing deep raids into the country. General Lee Seonggye distinguished himself by repelling the pirates in a series of successful engagements. Taejo of Joseon ( October 11, 1335 &ndash May 24, 1408; r 1392-1398 born Yi Seong-gye, whose changed name is Yi Dan, was The Goryeo dynasty would last until 1392, when Lee Seonggye, who had heavy support among aristocracy, would easily take power in a coup.

Joseon

Main article: Joseon Dynasty

In 1392 a Korean general, Yi Seonggye, was sent to China to campaign against the Ming Dynasty, but instead he returned to overthrow the Goryeo king and establish a new dynasty. Taejo of Joseon ( October 11, 1335 &ndash May 24, 1408; r 1392-1398 born Yi Seong-gye, whose changed name is Yi Dan, was The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led He named it the Joseon Dynasty in honor of the previous Joseon before (Gojoseon is the first Joseon. "Go" was added to distinguish between the two). King Taejo moved the capital to Hanseong (formerly Hanyang; modern-day Seoul) and built the Gyeongbokgung palace. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁 Gyeongbokgung) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. In 1394 he adopted Confucianism as the country's official religion, resulting in much loss of power and wealth by the Buddhists. Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B Joseon experienced advances in science and culture; most notably, the hangul alphabet was invented by King Sejong in 1443. The Joseon Dynasty is believed to have been the longest-lived actively ruling dynasty in East Asia during the last millennium.

Economy

Joseon maintained a stable economy during peaceful times. After the Joseon court was established and completed, the economy began to prosper as well. Early during the Joseon Dynasty, the economy was stable, especially during King Sejong's rule. However, the economy suffered after the Japanese invasions 1592-1598 and internal court corruption, bribery, and heavy tax, strained the Korean economy.

Social hierarchy

The Joseon formed a class system that greatly affected the economy. The king was at the top of the system, while the yangbans and government officials and generals were below him. The yangban were a well educated scholarly class of male Confucian intellectuals who were part of the ruling elite within Korea prior to 1910 and the republics period Yangbans were influential scholars during the Joseon Dynasty. The middle class consisted of a few merchants and craftsmen.

Foreign invasions

Joseon dealt with a pair of Japanese invasions from 1592 to 1598 (Imjin War). Two Japanese invasions of Korea and subsequent battles on the Korean peninsula took place during the years 1592-1598 This conflict brought prominence to Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and the use of turtle ships and hwachas by the Korean military. Yi Sun-sin (April 28 1545 – December 16 1598 also commonly transliterated Yi Soon-shin or Lee Sun-shin, Korean:이순신 was a Korean Construction According to the Nanjung Ilgi, Yi's wartime diary Yi decided to resurrect the turtle ship in 1591 from pre-existing designs after discussing Hwacha or Hwach'a. was an Anti-personnel Gunpowder weapon developed and used in Korea, inspired by Chinese Fire arrows Subsequently, there were invasions from Manchuria in 1627 (see the First Manchu invasion of Korea) and again in 1636 (see the Second Manchu invasion of Korea), after which the Joseon dynasty recognized the legitimacy of the Qing Empire. Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast The First Manchu invasion of Korea occurred in 1627 when Hong Taiji led the Manchu army against Korea 's Joseon dynasty. The second Manchu invasion of Korea occurred in 1636 when the Manchu Qing Empire brought Korea 's Joseon dynasty into submission Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China There was trade with the Japanese at Busan, and emissaries were sent to Edo in Japan. literally bay - Door, " Estuary " edo once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the Europeans were not permitted to trade at Korean ports until the 1880s.

19th century

During the 19th century, Korea tried to control foreign influence by closing the borders to all nations but China. In 1853 the USS South America, an American gunboat, visited Busan for 10 days and had amiable contact with local Korean officials. USS South America (1861 – a Whaler purchased by the Union Navy on 9 November 1861 at New London Connecticut, was acquired Several Americans who were shipwrecked on Korea in 1855 and 1865 were also treated well and sent to China for repatriation. The Joseon court which ruled Korea, was well aware of the foreign invasions and treaties involving Qing China, as well as the Opium Wars, and followed a cautious policy of slow exchange with the West. The Opium Wars ( also known as the Anglo-Chinese Wars, lasted from 1839 to 1842 and 1856 to 1860 the climax of a trade dispute between China under the Qing

French Invasion (1866)

Main article: French Campaign against Korea, 1866

In 1866, reacting to greater numbers of Korean converts, the Korean court clamped down on the illicit French missionaries, massacring French Catholic missionaries and Koreans converts alike. The French campaign against Korea of 1866 is also known as Byeong-in yangyo ( Western disturbance of the byeong-in year) That same year France invaded and occupied portions of Ganghwa Island in the fall of 1866. The Korean army lost heavily, and the French abandoned the island. This event is also called 'Byeonginyangyo'(병인양요)

US Korean expedition (1871)

Main article: United States Korean expedition

The General Sherman, a British owned armed merchant marine sidewheel schooner, attempted to open Korea to trade in 1866. The United States expedition to Korea in 1871 also known as Shinmiyangyo ( Western Disturbance of the Year Sinmi year) was the first American After an initial miscommunication, the ship sailed upriver and became stranded near Pyongyang. After being ordered to leave by Korean officials, the American crewmen killed four Korean inhabitants, kidnapped a military officer and engaged in sporadic fighting that continued for four days. After two efforts to destroy the ship failed, the USS General Sherman was finally set afire by Korean fireships laden with primitive explosives. A fire ship, used in the days of wooden rowed or Sailing ships was a ship filled with combustibles deliberately set on fire and steered (or where possible allowed to drift

In response, the United States confronted Korea militarily in 1871, killing 350 Koreans and retreating in what the Koreans call the Sinmiyangyo. The United States expedition to Korea in 1871 also known as Shinmiyangyo ( Western Disturbance of the Year Sinmi year) was the first American Five years later, the reclusive Korea signed a trade treaty with Japan, and in 1882 signed a treaty with America, ending several centuries of isolationism.

Japanese penetration

By 1876, a rapidly modernizing Japan forced Korea to open its ports and successfully challenged the Qing Empire in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The First Sino-Japanese War ( 日清戦争 Romaji: Nisshin Sensō ( 1 August 1894 – 17 April 1895) was a war fought between In 1895, the Japanese murdered Empress Myeongseong,^[21] who had sought Russian help, and the Russians were forced to retreat from Korea. Empress Myeongseong ( October 19, 1851 &ndash October 8, 1895) was the first official wife of King Gojong, the 26th king of the

Korean Empire

Main article: Korean Empire

In 1897, Joseon was renamed the Korean Empire, and King Gojong became Emperor Gojong. The Korean Empire was a former small empire of Korea that lasted from the Gwangmu Restoration of 1897 until Japan 's annexation of Korea in 1910 The Korean Empire was a former small empire of Korea that lasted from the Gwangmu Restoration of 1897 until Japan 's annexation of Korea in 1910 A period of Russian influence followed, until Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). The Russo-Japanese War (日露戦争 Romaji: Nichi-Ro Sensō Русско-японская война Russko-Yaponskaya Voyna;, 10 February 1904 – 5 September Korea effectively became a protectorate of Japan on 25 July 1905, the 1905 Protectorate Treaty having been promulgated without Emperor Gojong's required seal. In International law, a protectorate is a autonomous territory that is "protected" by a stronger state or entity hense the protector which engages to protect Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting

Japanese occupation

Main article: Korea under Japanese rule

In 1910 Japan effectively annexed Korea by the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty. Korea under Japanese rule refers to the period between 1910 and 1945 when Korea was forcibly annexed by the Japanese Empire. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. The Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty was signed on August 22, 1910 by the representatives of the Korean and Japanese Imperial Governments and was While the legality of the treaty is still asserted by Japan, it is generally not accepted in Korea because it was not signed by the Emperor of Korea as required and violated international convention on external pressures regarding treaties. Korea was controlled by Japan under a so-called Governor-General of Korea until Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces, on 15 August 1945, with de jure sovereignty deemed to have passed from Joseon Dynasty to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The post of Governors-General of Korea ( Korean: 조선총독부 Hanja: 朝鮮總督府 Japanese: 朝鮮総督府 served as the Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was a Government in exile based in Shanghai, China and later in Chongqing, during the

European-styled transport and communication networks were established across the nation. Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another Communication is the process of conveying information from a sender to a receiver with the use of a medium in which the communicated information is understood the same way This facilitated Japanese exploitation, but modernization had little if any effect on the Korean people, but was mainly being used to serve Japanese trade needs, and their tight centralized controls. The Japanese removed the Joseon hierarchy, destroyed the Korean Palace, and revamped Korea's taxation system to evict tenant farmers, export Korean rice crops to Japan which provoked Korean famines; and brought in a punitive series of measures which included murdering those who refused to pay taxes in the provinces; forced slavery in roadworks, mines, and first sweat shop factories in Korea. Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁 Gyeongbokgung) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. Then Japan further promoted slavery of Koreans in Japan and its occupied territories by transporting forced slaves to these areas.

After the Korean Emperor Gojong died in January 1919, with a rumor of poisoning, liberation rallies against Japanese invaders took place nationwide on 1 March 1919 (the March 1st (Samil) Movement). The March First Movement, or Samil Movement, was one of the earliest displays of Korean independence movements during the Japanese occupation of Korea This movement was suppressed by force and about 7,000 were killed by Japanese soldiers and police. ^[22] An estimated 2 million people took part in peaceful, pro-liberation rallies. (The Japanese record claims less than half million. ) Many Korean Christians, including an entire village of Jeamri, were crucified or burnt alive in churches as they fought for Korean liberation. This movement was partly inspired by United States president Woodrow Wilson's speech of 1919, declaring support for right of self determination and an end to colonial rule for Europeans. Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28 1856—February 3 1924 was the twenty-eighth President of the United States. No comment was made by Wilson on Korean liberation, perhaps as a pro-Japan faction in the USA sought trade inroads into China through the Korean peninsula.

The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was established in Shanghai, China, in an aftermath of March 1st Movement, which coordinated the Liberation effort and resistance against Japanese control. Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million Some of the achievements of the Provisional Government include the Battle of Chingshanli of 1920 and the ambush of Japanese Military Leadership in China in 1932. The Battle of Cheongsanri (Chingshanri in Chinese was fought between the Imperial Japanese Army and Korean armed groups in a densely-wooded region of eastern The Provisional Government is considered to be the de jure government of the Korean people between the period 1919 to 1948, and its legitimacy is enshrined in the preamble to the constitution of the South Korea. A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː

Continued anti-Japanese uprisings, such as the nationwide uprising of students in November 1929, led to the strengthening of military rule in 1931. Anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea is complex and multi-faceted After the outbreaks of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 and World War II Japan attempted to exterminate Korea as a nation. The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Worship at Japanese Shinto shrines was made compulsory. is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. The school curriculum was radically modified to eliminate teaching in the Korean language and history within Korea. The continuance of Korean culture itself began to be illegal. This article is about the traditional culture of Korea. For the modern culture see Culture of North Korea and Culture of South Korea Korean culture and economy suffered heavy losses. The Korean language was banned and Koreans were forced to adopt Japanese names. ^[23] Numerous Korean cultural artifacts were destroyed or taken to Japan. ^[24] To this day, valuable Korean artifacts can often be found in Japanese museums or among private collectors. Newspapers were prohibited from publishing in Korean and the study of Korean history was banned at university with Korean textbooks burnt, destroyed, or made illegal which Editing Agency of Korean History oversaw. According to an investigation by the South Korean government, 75,311 cultural assets were taken from Korea. Japan has 34,369, The United States has 17,803. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[25]

Some Koreans left the Korean peninsula to Manchuria and Primorsky Krai. The Korean people are an East Asian Ethnic group. Most Koreans speak the Korean language. Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast Primorsky Krai (Примо́рский край also known as Primorye (ru Примо́рье is a federal subject of Russia (a Krai) Koreans in Manchuria formed resistance groups known as Dongnipgun (Liberation Army) which would travel in and out of the Korean-Chinese boundary, fighting guerrilla warfare with the Japanese forces. The Korean independence movement grew out the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1910-1945 Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes raids etc These guerilla armies would come together in 1940s as Korean Liberation Army and the Liberation Army took part in allied action in China and parts of South East Asia. The Korean Liberation Army, established on September 17 1941 in Chongqing, China, was the armed force of the Provisional Government of the Tens of thousands of Koreans also joined the Peoples Liberation Army and the National Revolutionary Army. The People's Liberation Army ( PLA) ( is the unified Military organization of all land sea and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The National Revolutionary Army ( NRA) ( sometimes shortened to 國軍 or National Army) was the National Army

During World War II, Koreans were forced to support the Japanese war effort. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Tens of thousands of men^[26] were conscripted into Japan's military. Around 200,000 girls and women, mostly from Korea and China, were conscripted as sex slaves, euphemistically called "comfort women". Comfort women is a Euphemism for women forced into Prostitution and Sexual slavery for Japanese military brothels during World War ^[27]

The division of Korea

Main article: Division of Korea

The unconditional surrender of Japan, the earlier collapse of Nazi Germany, combined with fundamental shifts in global politics and ideology, led to the division of Korea into two occupation zones effectively starting on September 8, 1945, with the United States administering the southern half of the peninsula and the Soviet Union taking over the area north of the 38th parallel. Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The 38th parallel north is a Circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. The Provisional Government was ignored, mainly due to American misconception that it was too communist-aligned. This division was meant to be temporary and was first intended to return a unified Korea back to its people until the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and Republic of China could arrange a trusteeship administration. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES

At the Cairo Conference on 22 November 1943, it was agreed that Korea would be free "in due course Korea shall become free and independent”; at a later meeting in Yalta in February 1945, it was agreed to establish a four-power trusteeship over Korea. The Cairo Conference (codenamed "SEXTANT" of November 22 - 26 November 1943 held in Cairo, Egypt, addressed the Allied Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Yalta (Ялта Yalta is a city in Crimea, southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea. On August 9, 1945, Soviet tanks entered northern Korea from Siberia, meeting little to no resistance. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces on 15 August 1945. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed

In December 1945, a conference convened in Moscow to discuss the future of Korea. Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of A 5-year trusteeship was discussed, and a joint Soviet-American commission was established. The commission met intermittently in Seoul but deadlocked over the issue of establishing a national government. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. In September 1947, with no solution in sight, the United States submitted the Korean question to the UN General Assembly. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Membership For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly see General Assembly members

Initial hopes for a unified, independent Korea quickly evaporated as the politics of the Cold War and opposition to the trusteeship plan from Korean anti-communists resulted in the 1948 establishment of two separate nations with diametrically opposed political, economic, and social systems. Korean reunification is a possible future Reunification of North Korea and South Korea under a single government Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the On June 25, 1950, by its resolution 82^[28] the Security Council of the United Nations recognised the Republic of Korea as the sole legal government of Korea. Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː In June 1950 the Korean War broke out when North Korea breached the 38th parallel line to invade the South, ending any hope of a peaceful reunification for the time being. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the Because of the American rule over South Korea, post-independence South Korea became a democracy, like the United States of America. Similarly, due to the Soviet occupation of North Korea, post-independence North Korea established a communist government, parallel to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

See History of North Korea and History of South Korea for the post-war period. For the history of Korea before its division, see History of Korea. For the history of the Korea before its division, see History of Korea.

Notes

1. ^ Byeon (1999), p. 27. Byeon explains that the lower layers of Seokjangni and other sites have been dated to 600,000-500,000 BC, and that the discovery of yet older layers at a site in Damyang County have led to the hypothesis that hominid habitation of Korea began around 700,000 BCE. Damyang County ( Damyang-gun) is an county in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. A hominid is any member of the biological family Hominidae (the "great apes" including the extinct and extant Humans Chimpanzees
2. ^ Go-Choson
3. ^ Murder of Empress Myeongseong
4. ^ Forced Annexation
5. ^ Han, Chang-Gyun (March 2002). "한국의 선사시대에 대한 북한 고고학계의 동향과 시각-구석기시대와 신석기시대를 중심으로-Trend and Perspective of Korean Prehistoric Study in North Korea". 한국고대사연구 (25): 5-27.   In addition, the Korean Central News Agency, the official News Agency of North Korea claims that Korea is one of the several cradles of humankind in the world (13/04/2004). The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA is the state news agency of North Korea and has existed since December 5, 1946. Typical of relics that allegedly dates from the beginning period of humankind was discovered in a grotto in Huku-ri of Sangwon County, Pyongyang. [1]
6. ^ Stark, Miriam T (2005). Archaeology Of Asia. Blackwell Publishing, 137. ISBN 1405102128.  
7. ^ 6. Korea, to 540 C.E. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History
8. ^ See also Jewang Ungi, Dongguk Tonggam, Sejong Sillok, and Chronicle of Korean Rulers, 제왕연대력 帝王年代曆 Jewang yeondaeryeok, Choe Chiwon (최치원) (857 - ?)
9. ^ Jaehoon Lee (2004). The Jewang Ungi is a historical Poem composed by Yi Seung-hyu (李承休 in 1287 in the late Goryeo period The Dongguk Tonggam is a chronicle of early Korean history, compiled by Seo Geo-jeong (1420-1488 and other scholars in the 15th century Choe Chiwon (857-10th century was a noted Korean Confucian official philosopher and poet of the late Unified Silla period (668-935 The Relatedness Between The Origin of Japanese and Korean Ethnicity 31. The Florida State University. Retrieved on 2007-04-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I.
10. ^ http://enc.daum.net/dic100/viewContents.do?&m=all&articleID=b01g4157b|Daum article: 고조선[古朝鮮
11. ^ http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/04/eak/ht04eak.htm|Metropolitan Museum of Art: Timeline of Art and History, Korea, 1000 BC-1 AD
12. ^ Neolithic and Bronze Age - The Art of Asia - Guide to Korean Historical Periods
13. ^ Neolithic and Bronze Age - The Art of Asia - Guide to Korean Historical Periods
14. ^ The Origin of the Korean People: Who are the Koreans?
15. ^ Editorial of Buksori by Prof. Park Seonhee[2]
16. ^ "Yayoi Period History Summary," BookRags. com; Jared Diamond, "Japanese Roots," Discover 19:6 (June 1998); Thayer Watkins, "The Genetic Origins of the Japanese"
17. ^ ^{a b c} Korea's History (Ko-Choson, Three Kingdoms, Parhae Kingdom, Unified Shilla, Koryo Dynasty, Colonial Period, Independence Struggle, Provisional Government of Korea, Independence Army, Republic of Korea,)
18. ^ "Korean Buddhism Basis of Japanese Buddhism," Seoul Times, June 18, 2006; "Buddhist Art of Korea & Japan," Asia Society Museum; "Kanji," JapanGuide. com; "Pottery," MSN Encarta; "History of Japan," JapanVisitor. com.
19. ^ http://www.rootsinfo.co.kr/history/king08.html Wang Geon changed the name of dynasty to Goryeo.
20. ^ http://www.rootsinfo.co.kr/history/king08.html Wang Geon changed the name of dynasty to Goryeo
21. ^ Murder of Empress Myeongseong
22. ^ March 1st Movement
23. ^ 宮田 節子 [Miyata, Setsuko]. "創氏改名" [Creating Surnames and Changing Given Names}, 明石書店 [Akashi-shoten], 1992, al. ISBN 4-7503-0406-9
24. ^ Newsweek. com. Who rightfully owns Korean artifacts looted by Japan?
25. ^ http://news.naver.com/news/read.php?mode=LSD&office_id=001&article_id=0001429084
26. ^ 山脇 啓造 Yamawaki, Keizo. 近代日本と外国人労働者―1890年代後半と1920年代前半における中国人・朝鮮人労働者問題 Modern Japan and Foreign Laborers: Chinese and Korean Laborers in the late 1890s and early 1920s, 明石書店 Akashi-shoten, 1994, et al. ISBN 4750305685
27. ^ [3] [4] [5] Comfort-Women.org
28. ^ http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/064/95/IMG/NR006495.pdf?OpenElement The link usually doesn't work. Access the document through the UN website, their archive of Security Council Resolutions.

References

• Byeon Tae-seop (변태섭) (1999). 韓國史通論 (Hanguksa tongnon) (Outline of Korean history), 4th ed. . ISBN 89-445-9101-6.  
• Yang, S. C. (1999). The North and South Korean political systems: A comparative analysis. (Rev. Ed. ). Seoul: Hollym. ISBN 1-56591-105-9

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Prehistory of Korea
• List of Korean Kings
• Military history of Korea

External links

• http://www.koreaorbit.com/history-of-korea/history-of-korea-dynasties.html
• http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm#The%20Ko%20Choson
• http://www.rootsinfo.co.kr/history/king01.html -in Korean
• Archival Heritage of Korea
• Kyujanggak Achieve(big pdfs of many history classics of Korea in their original written Classical Chinese)

This is a list of articles on Korea -related people places things and concepts This article is about the prehistory of the Korean Peninsula, from circa 500000 BCE through 300 BCE The Korean Dynasties are listed in the order of their fall This list includes the monarchs' romanized posthumous or Temple names and reign dates Korea ' s military history spans back thousands of years beginning with the kingdom of Gojoseon and its repulsions of ancient China

---

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic