Ancient History 2333 BC - 313 AD

2. Ancient History2333 BC - 313 AD • The first dynasty was the Tan'gun dynasty, a theocracy which ruled Pyongyang. Several scholars claim this is a mythic dynasty, a story to explain the beginning of the Korean people. Others view this dynasty as a historical fact, and attribute a cultural/spiritual significance to it. • The Han Dynasty of China extended into North Korea. Chinese cultural influence thus spread into Korea, resulting in Korean adoption of a centralized bureaucracy, Confucianism, and others.

3. The Three Kingdoms Period37 BC - 935 AD • While the North was occupied by China, the remaining South had been subdivided by the three Han tribes. • In the Southwest was the Ma Han. • In the Southeast was the Pyon Han. • And in the middle was the Chin Han.

4. The Three Kingdoms Period37 BC - 935 AD • In 37 BC the Koguryo invaded the North from Southern Manchuria, and formed a new Northern kingdom. • With such pressure from the North, the Chin Han and Pyon Han merged, to form the Silla Dynasty in 57 BC. • The Ma Han meanwhile had evolved into the Paekche (Paikje) Dynasty. • And the two (Silla and Paekche) eventually allied to defend against the Koguryo. • During this turbulent time, Buddhism and Confucianism were widely introduced to the Korean Peninsula.

5. The Three Kingdoms Period37 BC - 935 AD • The Silla, allied with the Tang Chinese, finally conquered the Paekche, unifying the South. • Again allied to the Tang Chinese, the Silla defeated the Koguryo in 668 AD, finally unifying the Korean Penninsula.

6. Koryo Dynasty935 AD - 1392 AD • Northern dissidents of the Silla established themselves, and led by General Wangkunformed the Koryo Dynasty in the North. • The Sillasurrenderred, and a new capital for the Koryo Dynasty was established as Kaesung. • By 1123 the Koryo had begun to fracture into separate rival factions. • This was accelerated in part by the Mongol invasion and conquest. • Koryo was turned into a vassal of the Khan, and the people were heavily taxed to fund the attempted invasions of Japan. Korean men were also conscripted into service for the invasion attempts. Koryo remained subservient to the Mongols until 1368, when it finally broke free. • However, the damage had been done, and in 1392 General Yi took over, founding the Yi dynasty and moving it's capital to Seoul.

7. Yi Dynasty and Japanese Invasions1392 AD - 1598 AD • Yi Dynasty re-established ties with Ming Dynasty China. • In 1443 AD King Sae Jong(1418 AD - 1450 AD) developed Hangul, the Korean writing system (alphabet) which is the standard today. • However, the stable reign of the Yi Dynasty was not to last forever, and in 1576 AD the court split into East and West factions. This split was soon followed by the attempted Japanese invasion of China in 1592.

8. Yi Dynasty and Japanese Invasions1392 AD - 1598 AD • While Japanese armies were able to defeat Korean troops on the battlefield, the naval engagements were decidedly in Korea's favor. Credited with smashing the Japanese fleets was Admiral Yi Sun Sim and his "turtle" ships. The first ironclad ships ever used in combat (predating Western use), the turtle ships were, as the name suggests, low lying ships with heavy iron plating on the top and sides of the ship. • However, his naval victories were not enough to hold off the Japanese, which occupied Southern Korea until they were finally driven out in 1598. The invasions didn't end until 1627, when the Manchus invaded, and Korean became a vassal state of the Ching Dynasty.

9. Colonial Korea1777 AD - 1905 AD • In 1777 AD Catholicism was introduced in Korea when a Korean man, who had travelled to China and had observed Catholic missionaries, brought back the religion to his village. • It would be several years before formal missionaries arrived, but already the presence of Western influence in Korea was seen as undesirable, and by the turn of the century Prince Tae Won Kun had closed the country to Westerners. • This closing was not enough to stop the Western invasion, and by 1839 the first French Catholic priest was martyred. 1866 was marked by the French bombardment of Kangwha Island, and the burning of a US ship at the Taedong river. US retaliation came in the form of the seizing of Kangwha Island in 1871 AD. And by 1876, much like China, Korea was forced to accept a lopsided trade treaty with Japan, with similar treaties signed with the US, France, Briton, Russia, and Germany.

10. Japanese Exploitation1905 AD - 1945 AD • By 1905 AD Japan had assumed administration over Korea. All government functions (police, fire, roads, etc.), as well as all industries, were taken over by Japanese, and Korea's economy was re-geared towards providing Japan with food and material for the expanding imperialistic efforts. • Japanese became the official language, and Shintoism became the official religion. Usage of the Korean language was banned, and local religions were persecuted. • Korean became the "Rice Bowl" of Japan, there was more rice than ever before, everybody but the Japanese were going hungry.

11. Japanese Exploitation1905 AD - 1945 AD • Such exploitation expanded in 1937 AD, when Korea became the strategic base for operations in the invasion of China. Korean men were conscripted to fight in the army, and Korean women were conscripted for use as sex slaves for Japanese troops. • All use of the Korean language was banned outright, and all Koreans were forced to adopt new Japanese names. Punishment was severe during this period. All forms of torture were used to keep the populace under control, and the country was laid waste by the oppression and exploitation. • The situation was to last up to the end of the Second World War, when Korea was finally liberated by the Soviets and Americans.

12. Korea Divided1945 AD - 1950 AD • The surrender of Japan in 1945 meant the liberation of Korea. American occupying forces moved into the Southern half of the penninsula, while Russian forces, who had been preparing for an invasion of Japan, occupied the Northern half. • By mutual decision, Korea was divided at the 38th Parallel, and unification would follow popular elections. However, the end of World War II also meant the beginning of the Cold War, and Korea was a strategic point neither side was willing to concede.

13. Korea Divided1945 AD - 1950 AD • By 1948 the Democractic Peoples' Republic of Korea was formed in the North. • And the Republic of Korea was formed in the South.

14. The Korean War1950 AD - 1953 AD • The Korean War began in June of 1950, when North Korean tanks rolled across the 38th parallel, attempting to quickly unite the country by force. •  A demilitarized zone (DMZ) was set up between the North and South, along the front, which in turn closely followed the 38th parallel.

15. Industrial Modernization1953 AD - 1988 AD • South Korea was left in little more then ruins following the Korean War, with poverty and hunger rampant. Drastic measures would be taken by the President, Syngmon Rhee, in order to bring the country as rapidly as possible into the modern era. • His first moves were to consolidate power, deposing of political rivals and creating what was effectively a dictatorship. With support from the US, who was pleased by the harsh suppression of remaining Communists in the South, the recovery efforts of Korea were to follow the Japanese model.

16. Industrial Modernization1953 AD - 1988 AD • By 1988 South Korea was one of the "Four Dragons" (AKA Four Tigers) of the Asian economy, along with Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. As a cap to the amazing economic feats, Korea was host to the 1988 Summer Olympics, a giant celebration introducing the country to the world stage.