Korean history spans from the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE) through the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, ending in 1910. Key milestones include the unification of the Three Kingdoms by Silla, the creation of the Tripitaka Koreana and Hangul, and the naval victories of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
According to legend, Silla was founded by Bak Hyeokgeose in 57 BCE. It became one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, eventually unifying the peninsula in 668 CE. #KoreanHistory #ThreeKingdoms
Goguryeo was founded by King Dongmyeong in 37 BCE. It became the largest of the Three Kingdoms, known for its military prowess and expansion into Manchuria. #KoreanHistory #ThreeKingdoms
Baekje was founded by King Onjo in 18 BCE. It was known for its maritime trade and cultural influence on Japan. #KoreanHistory #ThreeKingdoms
Buddhism was officially introduced to Goguryeo from China, becoming a major cultural and religious force in Korea. #Buddhism #KoreanHistory
Buddhism reached Baekje, leading to the construction of temples and the spread of Buddhist art. #Buddhism #KoreanHistory
Silla officially adopted Buddhism, which became a state religion and influenced its unification efforts. #Buddhism #KoreanHistory
Baekje fell to the Silla-Tang alliance, marking a step toward Korean unification under Silla. #KoreanHistory #ThreeKingdoms
Goguryeo fell to the Silla-Tang alliance, and Silla unified most of the Korean Peninsula, beginning the Unified Silla period. #KoreanHistory #Unification
Silla established the Gukhak to promote Confucian education and train government officials. #Confucianism #Education
Bulguksa, a masterpiece of Buddhist art, was built in Gyeongju during the Unified Silla period. #Buddhism #Architecture
Jang Bogo, a powerful maritime figure, established trade routes between Korea, China, and Japan. #Trade #KoreanHistory
Wang Geon founded the Goryeo dynasty, which would rule Korea until 1392 and give its name to modern Korea. #Goryeo #KoreanHistory
Goryeo completed the unification of the Later Three Kingdoms (Silla, Hubaekje, Taebong), consolidating its rule. #Goryeo #Unification
Goryeo adopted the gwageo civil service examination system based on Confucian classics. #Confucianism #Government
Goryeo successfully repelled an invasion by the Khitan Liao dynasty, securing its northern borders. #War #Goryeo
The Khitan invaded again, but Goryeo's resistance led to a negotiated peace. #War #Goryeo
Goryeo decisively defeated the Khitan, ending the conflict and establishing peace. #War #Goryeo
The first set of woodblocks for the Tripitaka Koreana was completed, a massive collection of Buddhist scriptures. #Buddhism #Printing
Goryeo invented metal movable type printing, one of the earliest in the world, predating Gutenberg. #Printing #Innovation
Kim Bu-sik completed the Samguk Sagi, the oldest extant history of Korea, covering the Three Kingdoms period. #History #Literature
The Mongol Empire invaded Goryeo, beginning a series of invasions that would last decades. #War #Mongol
After years of resistance, Goryeo signed a peace treaty becoming a vassal state of the Mongol Yuan dynasty. #Mongol #Goryeo
Buddhist monk Iryeon compiled the Samguk Yusa, a collection of legends and history from the Three Kingdoms. #History #Literature
The Jikji, a Buddhist text, was printed using movable metal type, the oldest extant book printed with such technology. #Printing #Buddhism
General Yi Seong-gye overthrew Goryeo and established the Joseon dynasty, which would last until 1910. #Joseon #KoreanHistory
Joseon moved its capital to Hanyang (modern Seoul), which became the political and cultural center. #Joseon #Capital
King Taejong ordered the casting of metal type for printing, advancing Korean typography. #Printing #Innovation
Sejong the Great became king, ushering in a golden age of cultural and scientific achievement. #Joseon #KingSejong
Sejong established a royal research institute to promote scholarship and innovation. #Science #Education
King Sejong and scholars created Hangul, the Korean alphabet, to improve literacy among commoners. #Language #Innovation
The Hunminjeongeum document explaining Hangul was published, officially introducing the alphabet. #Language #KingSejong
Admiral Yi Sun-sin used innovative turtle ships (geobukseon) to achieve naval victories against Japan. #Naval #Innovation
Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Japan invaded Korea, starting a devastating war that lasted until 1598. #War #Japan
Admiral Yi Sun-sin won a decisive naval battle against a much larger Japanese fleet with only 13 ships. #Naval #YiSunSin
After Hideyoshi's death, Japanese forces withdrew, ending the war. Korea and its Ming ally were devastated. #War #History
Tobacco was introduced from Japan and quickly became popular, leading to government regulation. #Culture #Trade
The Later Jin (Manchu) invaded Joseon, forcing a tributary relationship. #War #Manchu
The Qing dynasty invaded and forced Joseon to become a tributary state, ending Ming influence. #War #Manchu
Dutch sailor Hendrick Hamel was shipwrecked in Jeju and later wrote the first Western account of Korea. #Exploration #Western
Joseon began persecuting Catholics, viewing the religion as a subversive foreign influence. #Religion #Persecution
The American merchant ship General Sherman was destroyed in Pyongyang after attempting to open trade, leading to tensions. #Trade #Conflict
Japan forced Korea to sign the Treaty of Ganghwa, opening Korean ports to Japanese trade and ending isolation. #Diplomacy #Japan
Peasants led by the Donghak movement rebelled against government corruption and foreign influence, sparking the First Sino-Japanese War. #Rebellion #Peasant
King Gojong proclaimed the Korean Empire, asserting independence from Qing China and modernizing the state. #Empire #Modernization
Japan formally annexed Korea, ending the Joseon dynasty and beginning 35 years of colonial rule. #Colonialism #Japan
