KOREA
PRE-HISTORY AND THE
THREE KINGDOMS
PRE-HISTORY
 Ancient Chosun
 The mythological unified Korean nation ruled by Tangun from 2333
BC
 - Kim Il Sung claimed descent from this line (first communist leader of
NK)
 - Claims to be the oldest continual line of descent for any race (problems
with this line of thought?)
 Han tribes 300 BC+
 Introduced elements of Chinese culture and technology
THREE KINGDOMS
ABOUT 56 BCE –
668 CE
 Koguryo: Northern Korea
53 BC – 668 AD
 Paekche: Southwestern
Korea 18 BC – 660 AD
 Silla (Sheila) Southeastern
Korea 57 AD – 668 AD
(Victory)
 Kaya (minor and short lived)
THREE KINGDOMS
KOGURYO: NORTH
 largest and strongest
 Included much of Manchuria
 Battled/resisted China several
times
 Buddhism introduced by Tibetan
monk - Sundo
THREE KINGDOMS:
PAEKCHE -- SOUTHWEST
 First to adopt Buddhism
 Sent scholars, craftsmen and
monks to Japan
 Destroyed by Silla-Tang alliance
THREE KINGDOMS:
SILLA -- SOUTHEAST
 Last to develop
 Built alliance with Tang
China
 Controlled Paekche
and Koguryo by 668CE
 Turned on Chinese
allies
 Unified area under
Silla Dynasty
668 CE – 918 CE
THREE KINGDOMS DIVISION
REPLAYED?
 Current division similar
to
3 Kingdoms
 South Korea also
divided into East/West
regions for domestic
politics
 Coincidence?
Three Kingdoms
Map
Contemporary
Korean Map