Choson Yi Dynasty Korea

1
Choson (Yi Dynasty) Korea

• 1392-1910

2
Geography, Demographics, Ethnicity

• Size of combined areas of England, Scotland, and
  Wales
• Split into North and South after WWII
• Combined population about 70 million
• Cf France 60 million Germany 83 million
• Peopled by waves of migration from Central Asia
  (present day Mongolia)
• Homogenous
• Same language Korea

3
Ancient Korea

• Ca. 100 BC Evidence of Korean State
• Dominated by China
• Ca 300 AD Emergence of Three Kingdoms
• Koguryo
• Paekche
• Silla

4
Three Kingdomsca. 500 AD
5
Unification of Peninsula

• Koguryo defends peninsula against Chinese
  invasion
• 668 AD Tang allies with Silla to crush Paekche
  and Koguryo
• Silla allies with peoples of former Paekche and
  Koguryo to defeat Tang
• All of peninsula north to the Yalu River ruled by
  Silla

6
Silla

• Silla becomes sinicized
• Absorbes already sinicized peoples of Koguryo and
  Paekche
• Establishes direct contact with China
• Tributary missions
• Monks
• Students
• Adopts Chinese political institutions with
  exceptions

7
Koryo Dynasty

• 936 Wang Kon proclaims new dynasty
• 958 Exam system established
• Military domination of court
• Mongol Conquest
• 1231 Mongols sack capital
• Mongol domination for 100 yrs
• 1388 Ming declares intention to take over former
  Yuan territory

8
Yi Dynasty

• Koryo sends two generals to fight off Ming
• Choe Yong
• Yi Song-gye