EarlyHistory

** There was three dynasties in Korea known as the three kingdoms. they were called the Silla dynasty, the Koryo dynasty, the Choson dynasty. The Silla- 668 CE- 918 CE. There was a golden age under the Silla. Trade grew people came from all of Asia and the Middle East to trade. Tts capitol was Kyongju it had many palaces and Buddhist temples. Buddhism influenced arcitecture, sculpture, and literature. the Koryo- 918 CE- 1392 CE. The name Korea comes from the Koryo. the first ruler set up the capitol Kaesong. They adopted the Chinese system of civil service examinations to get educated people to work in government.The only people allowed to take the test were the sons of rich people. The Koryo had to always fight of Japanese pirates from their coasts. Then in the 1200s the Mongols conquered Korea. the Choson- 1392- 1910. a Korean general, Yi Song-gye, made his capitol in Seoul which is still the capitol today. Confucianism replaced Buddhism as the main religion and system of social ethics. For 500 years they just had relations with China. Relations with other countries were discouraged. They became known as the hermit kingdom. A Choson king, Sejong created the Korean alphabet.
 * __ Early History __