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The Prehistoric Age
Archaeological findings have indicated that the first settlements on the
Korean Peninsula occurred 700,000 years ago
Go-Joseon (2333 - 108 B.C)
According to legend, the mythical figure Dan-gun founded Go-Joseon, the
first Korean Kingdom, in 2333 B.C. Subsequently, several tribes moved from the
southern part of Manchuria to the Korean Peninsula.
The Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C. - A.D. 676)
The three kingdoms, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, were established in the 1st
century A.D. During this period, the kingdom's political systems, religions
(Buddhism and Confucianism), and cultures developed.
The Unified Silla Kingdom and Balhae
The Unified Silla(676-935)
The Unified Silla Kingdom promoted the
development of culture and arts, and the popularity of Buddhism reached its peak
during this period. The Unified Silla Kingdom declined because of contention for
supremacy among the noble classes, and was annexed by Goryeo in 935.
Balhae(698-926)
The Balhae Kingdom began to emerge just as the
Goguryeo Dynasty was on the verge of collapsing. Goguryeo General, Dae Joyeong
founded Balhae along with his army of displaced peoples. At one point, Balhae
became so powerful that it was able to acquire territories in northern and
eastern parts of China, as well as many other developments within the kingdom.
At those times, the Tang Dynasty of China referred to Balhae as 'the strong
country by the sea in the east.' The significance of the Balhae Kingdom is
greatly inherited from Goguryeo, including the land that it was able to
retrieve.
The Goryeo Dynasty (918 - 1392)
The Goryeo Dynasty was established in 918. Buddhism became the state
religion during this time and greatly influenced politics and culture. Famous
items produced during this time include Goryeo celadon and the Tripitaka
Koreana. During the Goryeo Dynasty, Jikji, the world's oldest movable metal type
was published. It was invented 78 years before the German movable metal type
created by Gutenburg.
The Goryeo Dynasty's strength decreased gradually in
the latter half of the 14th century.
The Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910)
The Joseon Dynasty was formed at the end of the 14th century. Confucianism
became the state ideology and exerted a massive influence over the whole of
society. The Joseon Dynasty produced Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, which was
invented in 1443, during the reign of King Sejong. The dynasty's power declined
sharply later because of foreign invasions, beginning with the Japanese invasion
of 1592.
The Japanese Colonial Period (1910 - 1945)
In 1876, the Joseon Dynasty was forced to adopt an open-door policy
regarding Japan. The Japanese annexation of Korea concluded in 1910, and Korean
people had to accept Japanese colonial rule until the surrender of Japan, which
ended World War II.
The Republic of Korea (1945 - Present)
In 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allies and withdrew from the Korean
Peninsula. The Korean Peninsula was then divided into two zones, South and North
Korea. The Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950 and fighting ended when an
armistice was signed on July 27, 1953. In 2000, an historic summit took place
between South and North Korea in Pyeongyang, the capital of North Korea.
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