The Dawn of Korean History (1)

Around 700,000 years ago, people started to live in Korean peninsula. As evidence of this, Paleolithic artifacts have been excavated all around the peninsula. In contrast to the Paleolithic Period, Neolithic sites have been found along the seas or around large rivers. The Bronze Age, which dates from 2000BC, is probably best known for dolmen, a famous burial site for chiefs. With the arrival of the Bronze Age, tribal societies appeared in some area of Manchuria and in the northwest of the Korean peninsula. Dangun integrated these tribes and founded Gojoseon, or Old Joseon, the first Korean kingdom. According to the Dangun foundation myth, Gojoseon was built with unique cultural features. For example, the appearance of a bear and a tiger in the myth indicates that the state worshipped animals.

After the fall of Gojoseon, many chiefdoms with iron metallurgy capabilities maintained their independence. Iron farming tools increased yields enormously, and the population was increasing at the same time. Also, iron weapons were widely used in intertribal warfare.

Tribal societies were gradually integrated into the Three Kingdom. Goguryeo was the first nation to organize itself as a kingdom. The kingdom adopted Buddhism as a national religion and established Taehak, an education institution, to cultivate talented individuals. Goguryeo also proclaimed own legal system. Goguryeo enjoyed a golden age during King Gwanggaeto`s reign. Jangsu, the son of King Gwanggaeto, moved the capital to Pyongyangseong and concentrated on expanding southward. In the late 5th century, the kingdom became a great power in Northeast Asia by taking possession of the central parts of the Korean peninsula and Manchuria.