Korean Civilization

Korean Civilization

Yi Dynasty a.k.a Choson

●

Yi Song-gye founded the Yi
Dynasty

●

Capital was created in Hanseong, current day Seoul which is the capital of South Korea

●

Korea was strengthened
during this time

●

Used Chinese ideas and
practices

Koryu (935 - 1392)

●

Ruler Wang Kon united Koguryo and
Silla kingdoms --> Koryu

●

Modeled the capital, Kaesong, after the Tang capital

●

Set up code of laws

●

Civil service system

●

Buddhism grew and pread

●

Created metal movable type

●

Perfected celadon pottery

Multiple Select

List some major achievements of Koryo artisans.

• Buddhist ideas

• Confucian ideas

• model of government

• paper

• gunpowder

Early Choson (1392 - 1910)

● Aristocratic society

○Social class was determined by
birth

○Similar to Caste system and the
social classes in Medieval Europe

Civil and Military Gov’t Workers

Lower Gov’t workers

Peasants, manual workers

Slaves who were legally
attached to land they worked

Multiple Choice

Ruler Wang Kon united which two kingdoms

• Tang and Paekche

• 
  Silla and Koguryo

• 
  Paekche and Koguryo

Reorder

Reorder the early Choson society:

• King

• Civil and Military Gov’t Workers

• Lower government workers

• Peasants/ Artisans

• Slaves

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Choson Golden Age
● Modeled after the Ming Dynasty

○Confucianism increased while Buddhism decreased

○Neo-Confucianism focused on the examination system

●

Golden Age in 15th Century
○Sejong the Great (1418-1450)

○Created Hangul, first writing system

○Advancements in astronomy

○Geography and cartography

○Medicine

● Weaknesses

○Large very poor peasant population
■Dirt roads, mud & thatch houses, famine and disease were common

○Minimal trade outside of Korea

Multiple Choice

The Choson Golden Age was modeled after the

• Tang Dynasty

• Yi Dynasty

• Mongol Empire

• Ming Dynasty

Multiple Choice

What is Hangul?

• 
  Chinese character system

• 
  Korean writing system

• 
  Japanese writing system

Multiple Choice

What innovations came out of the Choson Golden Age?

• paper

• pottery

• cartography (map making)

• astronomy

• geography

Japan’s Invasion and Admiral Yi Sun-Shin

●

1592 - Japan’s invasion
○Japan’s Hideyoshi attacks Joseon and
takes over capitol Seoul easily

○The Ming dynasty helped their “little
brother”

●

Chinese admiral sent to help Joseon

●

“Turtle Ships” - first armored warships

○“Shell” was created by overlapped copper
and iron plates to make it impenetrable

○Metal prows shaped like beaks used to ram other ships

○Boats could be rowed forward or backward

Multiple Choice

The war ship that helped the Choson defeat Japan was

• a Turtle ship

• an Ironclad

• a Frigate

• a Schooner

Economy of Choson Recovers

●

Strong leadership from 1724-1800

●

Created a strong textile company

●

Revised the legal code

●

Increased agriculture thanks to Chinese influence
○Fast-ripening rice

○Staple crops Wheat and barley

●

Population grew

●

Peasants started working as artisans

●

Market economy grew
○Trade regulations were lifted with Japan and China

○Currency replaced barter

○Social classes changed

Multiple Choice

What agricultural innovation came from China that helped the Choson in its recovery?

• irrigation

• composting

• fast-ripening rice

• GMOs