The document discusses the historical relationship between Korea and China from 108 B.C.E. to 1392 C.E., highlighting significant events such as the establishment of Chinese commanderies in Korea and the influence of Buddhism. It outlines the development of the Koryo dynasty, characterized by cultural advancements and a society influenced by Chinese governance. The text also poses questions regarding the impact of geography on early Korean history and the introduction of Buddhism to Korea and Japan.

1. Honors World History
KOREA

2. ESSENTIAL QUESTION

How did the relationship between Korea
and China develop between 108 B.C.E.
and 1392C.E.?

3. GEOGRAPHY OF KOREA

Features:
Mountains
 Rice paddies
 Sea

Northwestern boundary:
300 miles from historical
China
 Southern tip: 100 miles
from the southern
Japanese island of
Kyushu


4. ANCIENT KOREA
2000
B.C.E.
1500
B.C.E.
1000
B.C.E.
500
B.C.E.
0
500
C.E.
1000
C.E.
1500
C.E.
2000
C.E.

5. BRONZE, AGRARIAN, AND IRON
REVOLUTIONS OF KOREA
Population lived in small villages along
coasts and rivers
 Animists

 Worshiped
forces of nature
 Shamans
 Spoke

to the dead
Buried leaders in enormous tomb mounds

6. CHINESE COMMANDERIES
108 B.C.E. – 313 C.E.
108 B.C.E.: Han Emperor Wudi
sent an army into Korea to
flank Xiongnu Empire (north
of China)
 Wudi established 4
commanderies in Korea

Han troops
 Forts
 Ruled over local villages
 Lolang, commandery near
present-day Pyongyang

Han Wudi

7. THREE ANCIENT STATES OF KOREA
• Silla
• Paekche
• Koguryo
• Fought among
themselves
• Powerful kings
• Aristocratic society
governed local villages
• Buddhism from China
• Most villagers
continue to practice
animism

8. SILLA
Strong
 Chinese helped them to unify Korea for 8
years (660-668)
 Silla sent gifts (tributes) to the Chinese court

Chinese protected Korea’s northern boundary
from Chinese nomad invasions
 Adopted Chinese writing
 Silla incorporated part of the Chinese
government model
 Confucian national academy to train officials
 Annual embassies to Tang court


9. KORYO (918-1392)
After the fall of the Tang
dynasty, Korean’s northern border was
subject to Chinese nomadic invaders
 Silla court faced coups and rebellions
 918, a warlord general founded the
Koryo dynasty


10. KORYO (918-1392)



Koryo becomes English
“Korea”
Created earliest surviving
records of Korean history.
Buddhist temples and
monasteries are built


Stupa (on bottom right)
contains a sutra (relic of
Buddha)
Advancements



Poetry
Literature
Printing (c. 1250)using
movable metal type)
Pulguksa Temple (751)

11. KORYO (918-1392)

More “Chinese” than
Silla State
 Government
offices and
laws in Chinese style
 Society
 aristocrats
and
commoners
Aristocrats
Commoners
Slaves

12. KORYO (918-1392)

Economy
 Underdeveloped
 Barter;

no money
Mongols
 Wars
weakened the dynasty
 Mongol invasions of Japan were launched
from Korean ports

1400s: development of Korean alphabet

13. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:


How is early Korean history shaped by its
geography?
How was Buddhism introduced to Korea
and Japan?