2. • Korea is a rugged
peninsula lying between
China on the west and
north and Japan to the
east.
• Mountains and hills
make up about 70% of
the country
4. Evidence of inhabitants in Korea from as
early as 4000 BC exists in Korea. Legend
has it that the man-god Tan Gun founded
the Joseon (meaning Land of the
Morning Calm) Kingdom in 2333 BC.
Almost no centralized communities
existed from then until three kingdoms
emerged in the 1st century BC.
5. Goguryeo
• Established by King Jumong
• It was the first nation to develop as an
ancient kingdom
• It developed in Manchuria and the
northern part of the Korean peninsula
• Buddhism was introduced in 372 AD
6. Baekje
• Founded by King Onjo
• It occupied the southern region
Silla
• Established by King Pak Hyokkose
• It also occupied the southern region
• It formed the Hwarang (Youth Flower
Corps) - a voluntary military
organization, which contributed to the
strength of the Kingdom
7. • Silla allied itself with the Tang of China
to defeat Baekje and Goguryeo
• After the downfall of the two
kingdoms, the Tang ruled over their
former domains and also tried to conquer
Silla
• Silla finally drove out the Tang armed
forces and succeeded in unifying the
8. • This period marked the start of
Korea's cultural development
• Buddhism expanded and furled the
construction of numerous temples
and art works.
•Society divided into distinct classes
with a large semi-slave population
supporting an aristocratic minority.
9. • Warlords began amassing power bases
to the north and eventually took over
Silla and founded a new kingdom-
Goryeo.
• This period is the source of the English
name “Korea.”
• Laws were codified, and a civil service
system was introduced
10. • The art of celadon pottery was perfected
during this period
• The publication of Tripitaka Koreana (a
collection of Buddhist scriptures) and the
invention of movable-metal-type printing
press also happened during this period
• In 1231 AD the Mongols began its
campaigns against Korea and after 25 years
of struggle, the royal family relented by
signing a treaty – Goryeo thus became a
vassal of the Yuan Dynasty of China
11. • The capital was moved to Hanyang
(modern-day Seoul)
• Confucianism became the country’s
official religion
• It was during this period that the
Hangul (Korean alphabet) was
invented by King Sejong the Great
13. Social hierarchy during the
Joseon Dynasty
• Royalty
• Yangban - civil or military officials and
land owners
• Jungin - technical specialists such as
scribes, medical officers, technicians in
science-related fields, artists and
musicians.
14. Social hierarchy during the
Joseon Dynasty
•Commoners – largest class; had
obligations to pay taxes, provide
labor, and serve in the military. By paying
land taxes to the state, they were allowed
to cultivate land and farm.
• Slaves
15. • Korea suffered from invasions by the
Japanese (1592-1598) and the Manchus
(1627-1636).
•The Japanese were repelled by the
invention of “turtle ships” (massive, yet
swift, ramming/cannon ship fitted with
iron spikes) by Admiral Yi Sun-Sin and
help from Ming China
16. • During the 19th century, Joseon
Korea tried to control foreign
influence by closing the borders to all
nations but China – earning the
nickname “Hermit Kingdom”
• Due to the rise of converts, the
government massacred the illegal
French missionaries and converts alike
in 1866
18. • Beginning in 1876, the Japanese forced a
series of Western-style trade agreements
on Korea, leading to Japan's eventual
annexation of the country in 1910.
•People were forced to adopt Japanese
names, convert to the Shinto, and were
forbidden to use Korean language in
schools and business.
• Japan used Korea's resources, including
its people, to fuel its part in WWII
19.
20. • The Japanese surrender in 1945 caused
the peninsula to came under divided
rule: the USSR occupied Korea north of
the 38th parallel, while the U.S.
occupied the southern section.
• This division was meant to be
temporary and was first intended to
return a unified Korea back to its
people until the US, UK, Soviet
Union, and China could arrange a
trusteeship administration.
21. • 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
• In 1948, a democratic government
established the Republic of Korea (South
Korea) with its capital in Seoul while the
Communists established the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
with its capital in Pyongyang.
22. • On June 25, 1950, the North Korean
Army invaded the South
• UN forces helped the South while
Communist Chinese volunteers sided
with the North, resulting in a three
year war which left millions dead on
both sides.
