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500
Three Kingdoms of Korea Unite
The small kingdom of Silla conquers all other kingdoms on the Korean peninsula with the help of the Chinese. The Silla modeled their new kingdom off of the Tang Dynasty of China, and established a bureaucracy under the control of an absolute monarch, like the emperor -
Nov 19, 1392
Yi Dynasty is Established
The Yi dynasty was the last and longest living dynasty of Korea. The Yi dynasty was found by General Yi Song-gye; he built the capital in Hanyang which he named Choson after the state that dominated Korea hundres of years ago. Chinese influence was strong during this period. Yi Song-gye and his successors redistributed the land to government officials. Yangban, a new aristocracy of scholar-officials, was created. Neo-Confucianism became the main element of the state's ideology and society. -
Korea Wins Independence From Tang Conquerers
The Tang argued with the Silla over how to divide the newly conquered peninsula, and eventually revolts broke out. The Chinese eventually created a vassal type relationship with the king of the Silla, and evenually left the peninsula. -
Wang Kon Takes Over Korea
Wang Kon was a rebel officer in the Silla army who eventually staged a revolt and made himself king. He established a dynasty named Koryu, and created a sharp divide between the aristocracy and the lower classes. In this new society, there was no social mobility. Eventually, revolts broke out again, but were later put aside by the invading Mongols.
