History of Korea

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History of Korea
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KOREA

• Located on a peninsula
• Covered with mountains that are not high but are
  very rugged.
• Korea is called the Land of the Morning Calm
• (This book title is making a pun )

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Geography very early history

• Has served as a cultural bridge linking China
  with island chains, including Japan

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Earliest history of Korea Relationship with
China

• Earliest Koreans came not from China but from
  Siberia Manchuria (north of China). The
  earliest Koreans were hunter-gatherers.
• Korean language is unrelated to Chinese
• However, Korea was influenced by China in many
  ways. About 1500BC, Agriculture, including rice
  farming and metalworking came to Korea from China

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Early History of Korea

• Kingdom of Old Choson emerged in northern Korea
  about 200BC
• 108BC- Han dynasty China conquered Old Choson
  ruled it for 400 years
• During this time, Confucianism came from China to
  Korea, as well as Chinese writing.

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EARLY KOREA

• When the Han dynasty of China fell, Korea
  regained independence there were three kingdoms
  Koguryo, Paekche Silla
• About 300AD-600AD is called the 3 Kingdoms
  period. The 3 Kingdoms often fought among
  themselves. This corresponds to a period of
  disunity in China between the Han and Sui
  dynasties.

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Silla dynasty-670AD-935AD

• The 3 kingdoms of Korea continued to fight.
  Meanwhile China became reunited under the Sui
  dynasty. The Sui dynasty of China tried to take
  over Korea but failed. Soon the Tang dynasty of
  China overthrew the Sui.
• The Korean Silla dynasty made an alliance with
  Tang dynasty China
• Working together, the Korean kingom of Silla
  Tang China conquered the other two Korean
  kingdoms
• Then Silla threw the Chinese out, and ruled an
  independent unified Korea 670-935AD
• Buddhism came to Korea from China. During this
  time Buddhism became increasingly important in
  Korea and many beautiful temples were built
• The Silla dynasty is pronounced Shilla. It can
  be spelled either Silla or Shilla.

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Koryo dynasty 935-1231AD

• In 935, the Koryo dynasty (this is different from
  the old Koguryo kingdom) overthrew the old Silla
  dynasty, and ruled it until the 1200s
• The Koryo built a strong dynasty of hereditary
  kings.
• During this time, Korea developed its own version
  of the Civil Service Exam, although in Korea,
  only men of the aristocracy could take the test.
• The Koryo built a capital at Kaesong. We get the
  name Korea from this dynasty.

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Koryo dynasty 935-1231AD

• During this time, Korea improved moveable type (a
  Chinese invention), by making the letters from
  metal, which were more durable and made a sharper
  image.
• At first, one cuts letters in beech wood. One
  fills a trough level with fine sandy clay of
  the reed-growing seashore. Wood-cut letters are
  pressed into the sand, then the impressions
  become negative and form letters molds. At this
  step, placing one trough together with another,
  one pours the molten bronze down into an opening.
  The fluid flows in, filling these negative molds,
  one by one becoming type. Lastly, one scrapes and
  files off the irregularities, and piles them up
  to be arranged.

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MONGOLS IN KOREA

• In 1231, the Mongols invaded and took over Korea,
  ending the Koryo dynasty.
• In 1392, the Korean General Yi drove the Mongols
  out of Korea.

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Yi Choson Dynasty 1392-1910

• General Yi founded the next dynasty. It has two
  names. It is either called the Yi dynasty (after
  Yi), or the Choson dynasty. Yi himself called it
  Choson, after the first Korean kingdom- Old
  Choson.
• This dynasty lasted until 1910, when Korea was
  annexed by Japan

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Yi-Choson Dynasty Culture

• During this period a beautiful type of pottery
  with a green-blue glaze was made called
  celadon.

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Yi Choson dynasty-Hangul alphabet

• King Sejong the Great (1418-1450) was a scholar
  in many fields
• Created a much simpler alphabet for the Korean
  people-Hangul.
• Hangul is said to be the easiest, most logical
  alphabet in the world, and can be learned in a
  few hours.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
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King Sejong Hangul

• "Being of foreign origin, Chinese characters are
  incapable of capturing uniquely Korean meanings.
  Therefore, many common people have no way to
  express their thoughts and feelings. Out of my
  sympathy for their difficulties, I have created a
  set of 28 letters. The letters are very easy to
  learn, and it is my fervent hope that they
  improve the quality of life of all people-from
  King Sejong (not Ms. LeBourg)

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Hangul

• ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

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1600s

• The Japanese tried to invade and take over Korea.
  
• The Koreans, led by Admiral Yi (a different
  person from General Yi, who lived earlier) ,
  repelled their invasion with turtle boats,
  which had very thick, wooden sides and a metal
  top, the worlds first metal-clad ships.

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What happened next?

• The Yi (also called Choson) dynasty continued
  until 1910.
• Then there was a period when Korea was ruled by
  Japan. Japan was very mean to Korea!!!!
• After World War II, Korea regained its
  independence from Japan.
• However, Korea became divided at the end of World
  War II. North Korea became communist. South Korea
  developed a very dynamic free enterprise economy
  and became the leader in video games! The two
  remain divided.

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SOUTHEAST ASIA

• Mainland Southeast Asia
• Myanmar
• Thailand (Siam)
• Laos
• Cambodia
• Vietnam
• The people kingdoms of this area were
  influenced by both China India, but also had
  their own identity

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SOUTHEAST ASIA-Vietnam

• Forms an S along the eastern coast of S.E.
  Asia.
• It has mountains, deltas forests.
• Two main rivers Red River in the North.
• Delta of the Mekong River in the South

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VIETNAM

• Ancient land, inhabited since paleolithic times.
• Not much is known for sure about its early
  history, but there are legends that tell us the
  stories of its early kings.
• Wet rice farming began in about 1200BC

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Vietnam

• 111BC-conquered by Emperor Wu-ti of Han Dynasty
  China
• Ruled by China most of the time from 111BC-939AD,
  with several short periods when they cast off
  Chinese domination. During this time it was known
  as Annam

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Vietnam-China

• Vietnam was heavily influenced by China
• Adopted Mahayana Buddhism (Mahayana is the form
  of Buddhism practiced in China)
• Also adopted the philosophy of Confucianism
• Used the Chinese writing system.

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Vietnam

• 939AD-Ngo Quyen drove out the Chinese
• There was a period of disorder
• 1009AD, a period of strong dynasties unified
  Vietnam again.

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Southeast Asia-Indo China

• Other parts of Southeast Asia (other than
  Vietnam), were influenced more by India.
• Early in the history of Southeast Asia, traders
  and missionaries (Hindu and later Buddhist) came
  from India came to Southeast Asia.

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Southeast Asia-Indo China

• These Hindu Buddhist Missionaries brought
  Sanskrit writing
• Sanskrit came to be used in Southeast Asia (other
  than Vietnam). Indian literature spread.
• Hinduism and Buddhism spread.

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Khmer Empire

• Centered in modern day Cambodia and Thailand,
  the Khmer Empire grew to control much of
  Southeast Asia from 850AD-1250AD

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Khmer Empire

• Strongly influenced by Indian culture, adopted a
  combination of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs.
• Believed their ruler was a god-king.
• The rulers built elaborate cities, government
  centers, and temple complexes
• . Built the huge city of Angkor as their capital
• Built the huge temple complex called Angkor Wat,
  as well as many other temples.

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Khmer Empire

• Angkor Wat is the largest religious site in the
  world
• It is a complex of temples that symbolize the
  Hindu view of the universe.

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Angkor Wat

• built during the 1100s by Suryavaram II,
• honors the Hindu god Vishnu
• is a symbolic representation of Hindu cosmology.
• Consists of an enormous temple symbolizing the
  mythic Mt. Meru, with five inter-nested
  rectangular walls and moats that represent chains
  of mountains and the cosmic ocean.

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Khmer Empire

• The rulers also undertook major construction
  projects for the public good, such as hospitals,
  travelers rest-houses, canals, and huge water
  control systems designed to help rice farming
• Eventually the rulers of the Khmer Empire became
  corrupt, and this led to social discontent.

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Khmer Empire

• In its early history, the main religion of the
  Khmer empire was Hinduism.
• Later the ideas of Theravada Buddhism became
  increasingly widespread
• More like Siddhartha Gautama originally taught
• Emphasizes non-violence

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• Theravada Buddhism is the purer, simpler form of
  Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism had no place for
  splendid ceremonies, elaborate temples, or a
  god-king.
• Eventually, the Khmer empire was overthrown, and
  Theravada Buddhism became the dominant religion
  in Southeast Asia.