| The Prehistoric Age |
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Archaeological findings have indicated that the
first settlements on the Korean Peninsula occurred
700,000 years ago.
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| Gojoseon (2333 - 108 B.C.) |
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According to legend, the mythical figure Dan-gun
founded Gojoseon, the first Korean Kingdom, in 2333
B.C. Subsequently, several tribes moved from the
southern part of Manchuria to the Korean Peninsula.
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| The Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C.
- A.D. 676) |
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| The Three Kingdoms refers to a period of time (early
4th to mid-7th centuries A.D.) marked by the struggle
of three rival kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla
over the territory spanning the Korean peninsula
and part of Northeastern Asia.
Goguryeo
An ancient state of the Korean peninsula, Goguryeo occupied
the largest territory among the Three Kingdoms.
Founded in 37 B.C., Goguryeo prospered on a vast
area encompassing the northern part of the Korean
peninsula and south-central Manchuria. The kingdom
expanded its territory in fierce battles against
Chinese kingdoms, but fell to an alliance of Silla
and Tang forces in 668 A.D.
Silla
One of the ancient states of the Three Kingdoms, Silla
originated in the southeastern part of the Korean
peninsula. The kingdom lasted for 992 years, from
57 B.C. to 935 A.D. It conquered Baekje and Goguryeo,
one after the other, by joining forces with the
Tang Empire of China. Following the unification
of the Three Kingdoms, the Tang Empire was no longer
an ally, but an invader. Hence, Silla joined forces
with the people of Goguryeo and Baekje to drive
out Tang forces, and founded the first unified state
in the history of Korea in the territory south of
the Daedonggang River and Wonsanman.
Baekje
One of the three ancient kingdoms, Baekje (18 B.C.-
660 A.D.) was founded by King Onjo, the son of the
king of Goguryeo, in the southwestern part of the
Korean peninsula. The kingdom witnessed the florescence
of the elegant and delicate Baekje culture, which
in particular greatly affected Japanese culture.
In 660 A.D., Baekje was defeated by the coalition
troops of Silla and Tang of China. >>
More info |
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| The Unified Silla Kingdom and Balhae |
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| The Unified Silla (676-935) |
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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.
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More info |
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| Balhae(698-926) |
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The Balhae Kingdom began to emerge just as the
Goguryeo kingdom 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. 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.
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More info |
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| The Goryeo Dynasty (918 - 1392) |
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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. Jikjisimgyeong,
Buddhist scripture printed with the world's
first movable metal type developed in Korea
during the Goryeo Dynasty, is at least 78 years
older than the first Gutenberg Bible.
The
Goryeo Dynasty's strength decreased gradually
in the latter half of the 14th century.
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| The Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910) |
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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 later because of foreign
invasions, beginning with the Japanese invasion
of 1592.
>> More info
1.
The Early Joseon Dynasty
2.
The Late Joseon Dynasty |
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| The Japanese Colonial Period
(1910 - 1945) |
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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 suffer under Japanese colonial
rule until the surrender of Japan in 1945, which
ended World War II.
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More info |
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| Establishment of the Korean
Government (1945-1948) |
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Korea was liberated from Japanese oppression
on August 15, 1945, but it soon faced the tragic
division of North and South along the 38th parallel.
Both regions were placed under temporary military
rule by the U.S. and Soviet armies. In 1948
with the help of the United Nations, South Korea
held an election on May 10th and elected Dr.
Rhee Syngman president. On August 15th of that
same year, an official declaration was made
about the birth of the South Korean government.
On the other hand, North Korea formed the Provisional
People’s Committee for North Korea, led by
Kim Il-sung, in February 1946. On September
9, 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea was officially founded.
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| The Korean War (1950-1953) |
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In the early hours of June 25th, 1950, North
Korea attempted a forcible unification of North
and South Korea by invading South Korea over
the 38th parallel. In response, military help
from over 16 nations helped defend South Korea
against the threat of communism under the leadership
of UN General Douglas MacArthur. China and the
Soviet Union lent their military might to North
Korea. The war continued over the next 3 years
until coming to an end on July 27th 1953, with
a peace agreement signed at Panmunjeom, located
in the DMZ. Not only did the war ravage the
peninsula, it also heightened hostile sentiments
between the North and South, making reunification
a difficult task.
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| The Aftermath of War (1954-Current) |
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The Rhee Syngman government focused on an anti-communist
approach to government beginning in 1954, but
in 1960 the government's power collapsed with
the student's anti-government movement, the
4.19 Revolution. In 1963, Park Chung-hee was
elected president and ruled with a controversial
iron fist for the next 17 years. President Park
Chung-hee's 'Saemaeul Undong' (New Community
Movement, an effort to modernize Korea that
began in 1970) brought about much progress in
South Korea, and the systematic approach to
economic development also yielded increased
exports and positive returns. But with the democratic
movement in progress and the citizens becoming
wary of such extended rule, Park Chung-hee's
life ended in a 1979 assassination. Afterwards
in 1980, Chun Doo-hwan came to power and continued
to lead the nation with an authoritarian slant
as had been the case with former rulers. His
rule came to an end in 1987 after massive protests
across the country demanded democracy. In 1988
the Roh Tae-woo government started off the year
on a good note by successfully hosting the 1988
Seoul Olympics. His government went on to join
the UN in 1991. The Kim Young-sam government
which began in 1993 implemented a new system
in which people were required to use their real
names when making financial transactions, a
much needed revolution at the time. In 1998,
Kim Dae-jung was elected president and threw
his efforts into overcoming the IMF financial
catastrophe that hit Asia in 1997, and also
hosted the 17th FIFA World Cup in 2002. President
Kim Dae-jung was also the winner of the 2000
Nobel Peace Prize for his Sunshine Policy regarding
North Korea. President Rho Moo-hyun's term began
in 2003 aiming, to achieve economic growth,
and develop Korea as the hub of Asia with a
more democratic style of leadership.
On the other hand, North Korea has been ruled
by Kim Jeong-il since the death of Kim Il-Sung
in 1994. Faced with dire economic situations,
North Korea has begun to implement partial free
trade in an effort to remedy the situation.
North and South Korea jointly signed an agreement
on July 4th, 1972 concerning the reunification
of the two Koreas, and in 2000 Kim Dae-jung
and Kim Jeong-il took early steps to explore
reunification, improving the economy, and solving
the problem of separated families. The family
reunification program, started in 1985, and
continues to this day. In 1998, South Korean
citizens began to be admitted into North Korea
to tour the Geumgangsan Diamond Mountains.
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More info |
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| ■ WORLD CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE |
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| aa |
Korea |
China |
Japan |
The West |
| B.C. |
|
Bronze Age |
Jomon Period |
Ezrly Mesopotamia
Egyptian Kingdoms |
| 2000 |
|
Shang Dynasty (1766-1122)
Zhou
Dynasty (1122-256) |
|
|
| 1000 |
Bronze Age
Gojoseon |
Spring and Autumn Period
(770-476) |
|
Founding of Rome(753) |
| 500 |
Iron Age
Buyeo |
Warring States Era (475-221)
Qin
Dynasty (221-206)
Former Han
Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 9) |
Bronze Age
Yayoi Period |
Socrates (469-399)
Alexander
the Great (356-323)
First Punic
War (264-241)
Second Punic War
(219-201) |
| 200 |
Confederated Kingdoms of Samhan
(Three Han States) |
|
|
|
| 100 |
Three Kingdoms:Silla(57 B.C. - A.D.
935)
Goguryeo (37 B.C. - A.D.
668)
Baekje (18 B.C. - A.D. 660)
Gaya
(42-562) |
|
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Birth of Christ |
| A.D. 200 |
|
Later Han Dynasty (26-221)
Three
Kingdoms (220-280) |
Iron Age |
|
| 300 |
|
Jin Dynasty (265-420) |
Tumulus Period |
Christianity adopted as the state
religion of Roman Empire (392)
Roman
Empire divided (395) |
| 400 |
|
Nothern and Southern
Dynasties
(420-581) |
|
Anglo-Saxons established in Britain
(449) |
| 500 |
|
|
Asuka Perios (552-645) |
Mohammed (570-632) |
| 600 |
Unified Silla Kingdom(676-935)
Balhae
Kingdom (668-928) |
Sui Dynasty (581-618)
Tang Dynasty
(618-906) |
Nara Period (710-794) |
Hegira (622) and beginning of Islamic
era |
| 700 |
|
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Heian Period (794-1185) |
|
| 800 |
|
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|
Charlemagne crowned first Holy Roman
Emperor (800) |
| 900 |
Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) |
Five Dynasties(906-960)
Song
Dynasty (960-1279) |
|
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| 1000 |
|
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|
First Crusade (1096-1099) |
| 1100 |
|
Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) |
Kamakura Period (1185-1392) |
|
| 1200 |
|
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) |
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Magna Carta (1215)Marco Polo (1254-1324) |
| 1300 |
Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) |
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Muromachi (Ashikaga) Period(1392-1568) |
The Hundred Years' War(1338-1453) |
| 1400 |
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Gutenberg's Press (1492)
Columbus
discovers America (1492) |
| 1500 |
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Momoyama Period(1568-1615) |
Martin Luther launches reform of
the church (1517) |
| 1600 |
|
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) |
Tokugawa Period(1615-1867) |
The Thirty Years' War(1618-1648) |
| 1700 |
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American Independence (1776)
French
Revolution (1789-1793) |
| 1800 |
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Meiji Period(1868-1912) |
American Civil War (1861-1865) |
| 1900 |
Annexation by Japan (1910)
Establishment
of the ROK (1948)
Korean War
(1950-1953) |
Establishment of the ROC (1912)
Establishment
of the PRC (1949) |
Taisho Period(1912-1926)
Showa
Period(1926-1988)
Heisei Period(1989-) |
World War I (1914-1918)
World
War II (1939-1945) |
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