Korea, located on a large peninsula on the eastern coast of the Asian mainland, has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The first recognisable political state was Gojoseon in the second half of the first millennium BCE. From the 1st century BCE to the 7th century CE in the Three kingdoms period, the peninsula was dominated by the kingdoms of Baekje, Goguryeo and Silla, along with the Gaya confederacy.
More about: Ancient KoreaDefinition
Timeline
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2333 BCETraditional founding of Gojoseon by Dangun Wanggeom (Tangun).
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c. 1200 BCEThe thatched village of Hunam-ri near the Han River of Korea is built.
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1122 BCETraditional date that Gija (Jizi) becomes king of Gojoseon.
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194 BCE - 180 BCEWiman Joseon (Wiman Choson) takes control of Gojoseon, declaring himself king.
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57 BCE - 918 CEThe Silla Kingdom rules in Korea, first as one of the Three Kingdoms and then alone from 668 CE.
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57 BCE - 4 CEReign of traditional founder of Korea's Silla kingdom Hyeokgeose.
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57 BCE - 668 CEThree Kingdoms Period in Korea (Silla, Goguryeo, and Baekje).
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37 BCETraditional founding date of the Goguryeo Kindom in northern Korea.
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37 BCE - 668 CEThe Goguryeo kingdom rules in northern Korea.
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18 BCETraditional founding date of the Baekje kingdom in Korea.
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18 BCE - 660 CEThe Baekje Kingdom rules in western Korea.
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3 CEThe Goguryeo capital is established at Gungnae.
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42 CE - 532 CEThe Gaya (Kaya) Confederation rules in central Korea.
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342 CEMurong Huang invades Korea from China and sacks the Goguryeo capital of Gungnae, taking 50,000 inhabitants prisoner.
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371 CEBaekje conquers the Mahan federation and attacks Pyongyang, killing the Goguryeo king Gogugwon.
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372 CEA Confucian Academy is established in the Goguryeo kingdom of northern Korea and Buddism is adopted as the state religion.
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375 CEThe Sogi, a history of the Baekje Kingdom in Korea, is written.
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375 CE - 384 CEReign of Baekje king Geungusu in western Korea.
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384 CEBuddhism is adopted as the state religion by the Baekje kingdom of western Korea.
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384 CE - 385 CEReign of Baekje king Chimnyu in western Korea.
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391 CE - 413 CEReign of Goguryeo king Gwanggaeto the Great in northern Korea.
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427 CEPyongyang replaces Gungnae as the Goguryeo capital.
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433 CE - 553 CEBaekje forms an alliance with the Silla kingdom in Korea.
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475 CEGoguryeo attacks the Baekje kingdom, killing the king Gaero and forcing the abandonment of Hansong, his capital.
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475 CEA new Baekje capital is established at Ungjin (modern Gongju/Kongju).
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479 CE - 501 CEReign of Baekje king Dongseong in western Korea.
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520 CESilla king Beopheung introduces the bone rank system (Golpum).
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525 CEThe tomb of King Muryeong of Baekje is built near Gongju, Korea.
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532 CESilla captures and destroys the Gaya city of Bon-Gaya in southern Korea.
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538 CEA new Baekje capital is established at Sabi (modern Buyeo/Puyo).
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554 CEThe Silla kingdom attacks the Baekje kingdom and occupies the lower Han River valley.
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554 CEAt the battle of Gwansan Fortress (modern Okcheon) the Baekje army is defeated by the Silla and King Seong is killed.
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562 CESilla conquers the Gaya city of Daegaya in southern Korea.
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595 CE - 673 CEThe life of famed Korean general Kim Yu-sin.
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c. 600 CEFine quality paper known as hanji is produced in ancient Korea.
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612 CEGoguryeo general Eulji Mundeok wins a great victory against the Chinese Sui at the battle of the Salsu River.
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617 CE - 686 CELife of the Korean Buddhist philosopher Wonhyo.
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625 CE - 702 CELife of the Korean scholar-monk Uisang.
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628 CEThe Goguryeo kingdom of northern Korea builds a 480-km defensive wall as protection against attack from China.
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642 CEThe Baekje and Goguryeo kingdoms join forces against the Silla and conquer Taeya-song (modern Hapchon).
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644 CEA Goguryeo army defeats a combined Silla and Tang army.
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660 CEThe Baekje kingdom in Korea falls to a joint Silla and Chinese Tang Dynasty army and naval attack.
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661 CEA Tang Dynasty army unsuccessfully besieges the Goguryeo capital of Pyongyang.
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663 CEA rebel Baekje army is finally crushed by the Silla in Korea, ending the Baekje kingdom.
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667 CEA Tang Dynasty army besieges the Goguryeo capital of Pyongyang for a second time, this time successfully.
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668 CEThe Goguryeo kingdom of northern Korea collapses following an attack by the Tang Dynasty of China.
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668 CE - 935 CEUnified Silla Kingdom in Korea.
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675 CEA Silla army defeats a Tang force at the battles of Maesosong.
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676 CEA Silla army defeats a Tang force at the battle of Kibolpo, thus gaining control of the whole Korean peninsula.
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682 CEA National Confucian Academy is established in the Unified Silla Kingdom.
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698 CE - 926 CEThe Balhae kingdom rules in Manchuria and northern Korea.
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751 CE - 790 CEThe Buddhist Bulguksa temple complex is built east of Gyeongju, Korea.
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751 CE - 774 CEThe Buddhist cave temple at Seokguram (Sokkuram) east of Gyeongju, Korea is built.
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771 CEThe large bronze bell at the Buddhist shrine at Bongdeoksa, Korea, also known as the Emille Bell, is cast.
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828 CEJang Bogo establishes a garrison at Cheonghae, the Cheonghaejin fortress is constructed.
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857 CE - 915 CELife of Korean poet and scholar Choe Chiwon.
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889 CE - 935 CEThe Later Three Kingdoms period in Korea.
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918 CE - 943 CEReign of Goryeo founder King Taejo (formerly Wang Geon).
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918 CE - 1392 CEThe Goryeo Dynasty rules in Korea.
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927 CERebel leader Gyeon Hwon attacks Gyeongju, capital of the Unified Silla Kingdom.
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935 CEThe last Silla king, Gyeongsun, surrenders to Wang Geon ruler of Goryeo.
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994 CEThe Khitan Liao dynasty invades the Korean peninsula.
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1033 CEGoryeo wins a decisive battle against the northern Khitan tribes.
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1101 CEThe unbyong (aka hwalgu) silver vases are first made and used as currency in Korea.
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1126 CEA rebellion led by the king's father-in-law I Jagyeom is quashed in Goryeo.
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1126 CEThe Goryeo kingdom of Korea submits to vassal status towards the Jurchen Jin dynasty.
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1145 CEThe 'Samguk sagi' ('History of the Three Kingdoms') is written by Gim Busik in Goryeo.
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1170 CEThe military stages a coup in Goryeo. King Uijong is replaced by his brother Myeongjong as a puppet sovereign.
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1219 CEA Goryeo army allies with the Mongols to attack the Khitan in northern Korea.
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1231 CE - 1232 CEOgedei Khan leads a Mongol invasion into Korea.
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1234 CEMovable metal type printing is invented in Goryeo, Korea.
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1258 CEAn uprising restores the monarchy in Korea and makes peace with the Mongol Empire.
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1285 CEThe Samguk yusa ('Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms') is written by Iryeon in Korea.
