Visual Timeline: Korea

To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the timeline overview on the bottom.

2500 BCE 2000 BCE 1500 BCE 1000 BCE 500 BCE 0 CE 500 CE 1000 CE  
 
 
2333 BCE: Traditional founding of Gojoseon by Dangun Wanggeom (Tangun).
 
1200 BCE: The thatched village of Hunam-ri near the Han River of Korea is built.
 
 
1122 BCE: Traditional date that Gija (Jizi) becomes king of Gojoseon.
 
 
194 BCE - 180 BCE: Wiman Joseon (Wiman Choson) takes control of Gojoseon, declaring himself king.
 
 
57 BCE - 918 CE: The Silla Kingdom rules in Korea, first as one of the Three Kingdoms and then alone from 668 CE.
 
 
57 BCE - 4 CE: Reign of traditional founder of Korea's Silla kingdom Hyeokgeose.
 
 
57 BCE - 668 CE: Three Kingdoms Period in Korea (Silla, Goguryeo, and Baekje).
 
 
37 BCE: Traditional founding date of the Goguryeo Kindom in northern Korea.
 
 
37 BCE - 668 CE: The Goguryeo kingdom rules in northern Korea.
 
 
18 BCE: Traditional founding date of the Baekje kingdom in Korea.
 
 
18 BCE - 660 CE: The Baekje Kingdom rules in western Korea.
 
 
3 CE: The Goguryeo capital is established at Gungnae.
 
 
42 CE - 532 CE: The Gaya (Kaya) Confederation rules in central Korea.
 
 
342 CE: Murong Huang invades Korea from China and sacks the Goguryeo capital of Gungnae, taking 50,000 inhabitants prisoner.
 
 
371 CE: Baekje conquers the Mahan federation and attacks Pyongyang, killing the Goguryeo king Gogugwon.
 
 
372 CE: A Confucian Academy is established in the Goguryeo kingdom of northern Korea and Buddism is adopted as the state religion.
 
 
375 CE: The Sogi, a history of the Baekje Kingdom in Korea, is written.
 
 
375 CE - 384 CE: Reign of Baekje king Geungusu in western Korea.
 
 
384 CE: Buddhism is adopted as the state religion by the Baekje kingdom of western Korea.
 
 
384 CE - 385 CE: Reign of Baekje king Chimnyu in western Korea.
 
 
391 CE - 413 CE: Reign of Goguryeo king Gwanggaeto the Great in northern Korea.
 
 
427 CE: Pyongyang replaces Gungnae as the Goguryeo capital.
 
 
433 CE - 553 CE: Baekje forms an alliance with the Silla kingdom in Korea.
 
 
475 CE: Goguryeo attacks the Baekje kingdom, killing the king Gaero and forcing the abandonment of Hansong, his capital.
 
 
475 CE: A new Baekje capital is established at Ungjin (modern Gongju/Kongju).
 
 
479 CE - 501 CE: Reign of Baekje king Dongseong in western Korea.
 
 
520 CE: Silla king Beopheung introduces the bone rank system (Golpum).
 
 
525 CE: The tomb of King Muryeong of Baekje is built near Gongju, Korea.
 
 
532 CE: Silla captures and destroys the Gaya city of Bon-Gaya in southern Korea.
 
 
538 CE: A new Baekje capital is established at Sabi (modern Buyeo/Puyo).
 
 
554 CE: The Silla kingdom attacks the Baekje kingdom and occupies the lower Han River valley.
 
 
554 CE: At the battle of Gwansan Fortress (modern Okcheon) the Baekje army is defeated by the Silla and King Seong is killed.
 
 
562 CE: Silla conquers the Gaya city of Daegaya in southern Korea.
 
595 CE - 673 CE: The life of famed Korean general Kim Yu-sin.
 
600 CE: Fine quality paper known as hanji is produced in ancient Korea.
 
 
612 CE: Goguryeo general Eulji Mundeok wins a great victory against the Chinese Sui at the battle of the Salsu River.
 
617 CE - 686 CE: Life of the Korean Buddhist philosopher Wonhyo.
 
625 CE - 702 CE: Life of the Korean scholar-monk Uisang.
 
 
628 CE: The Goguryeo kingdom of northern Korea builds a 480-km defensive wall as protection against attack from China.
 
 
642 CE: The Baekje and Goguryeo kingdoms join forces against the Silla and conquer Taeya-song (modern Hapchon).
 
 
644 CE: A Goguryeo army defeats a combined Silla and Tang army.
 
 
660 CE: The Baekje kingdom in Korea falls to a joint Silla and Chinese Tang Dynasty army and naval attack.
 
 
661 CE: A Tang Dynasty army unsuccessfully besieges the Goguryeo capital of Pyongyang.
 
 
663 CE: A rebel Baekje army is finally crushed by the Silla in Korea, ending the Baekje kingdom.
 
 
667 CE: A Tang Dynasty army besieges the Goguryeo capital of Pyongyang for a second time, this time successfully.
 
 
668 CE: The Goguryeo kingdom of northern Korea collapses following an attack by the Tang Dynasty of China.
 
 
668 CE - 935 CE: Unified Silla Kingdom in Korea.
 
 
675 CE: A Silla army defeats a Tang force at the battles of Maesosong.
 
 
676 CE: A Silla army defeats a Tang force at the battle of Kibolpo, thus gaining control of the whole Korean peninsula.
 
 
682 CE: A National Confucian Academy is established in the Unified Silla Kingdom.
 
698 CE - 926 CE: The Balhae kingdom rules in Manchuria and northern Korea.
 
 
751 CE - 790 CE: The Buddhist Bulguksa temple complex is built east of Gyeongju, Korea.
 
 
751 CE - 774 CE: The Buddhist cave temple at Seokguram (Sokkuram) east of Gyeongju, Korea is built.
 
 
771 CE: The large bronze bell at the Buddhist shrine at Bongdeoksa, Korea, also known as the Emille Bell, is cast.
 
828 CE: Jang Bogo establishes a garrison at Cheonghae, the Cheonghaejin fortress is constructed.
 
857 CE - 915 CE: Life of Korean poet and scholar Choe Chiwon.
 
889 CE - 935 CE: The Later Three Kingdoms period in Korea.
 
918 CE - 943 CE: Reign of Goryeo founder King Taejo (formerly Wang Geon).
 
 
918 CE - 1392 CE: The Goryeo Dynasty rules in Korea.
 
 
927 CE: Rebel leader Gyeon Hwon attacks Gyeongju, capital of the Unified Silla Kingdom.
 
 
935 CE: The last Silla king, Gyeongsun, surrenders to Wang Geon ruler of Goryeo.
 
 
994 CE: The Khitan Liao dynasty invades the Korean peninsula.
 
 
1033 CE: Goryeo wins a decisive battle against the northern Khitan tribes.
 
 
1101 CE: The unbyong (aka hwalgu) silver vases are first made and used as currency in Korea.
 
 
1126 CE: A rebellion led by the king's father-in-law I Jagyeom is quashed in Goryeo.
 
 
1126 CE: The Goryeo kingdom of Korea submits to vassal status towards the Jurchen Jin dynasty.
 
1145 CE: The 'Samguk sagi' ('History of the Three Kingdoms') is written by Gim Busik in Goryeo.
 
 
1170 CE: The military stages a coup in Goryeo. King Uijong is replaced by his brother Myeongjong as a puppet sovereign.
 
 
1219 CE: A Goryeo army allies with the Mongols to attack the Khitan in northern Korea.
 
 
1231 CE - 1232 CE: Ogedei Khan leads a Mongol invasion into Korea.
 
1234 CE: Movable metal type printing is invented in Goryeo, Korea.
 
 
1258 CE: An uprising restores the monarchy in Korea and makes peace with the Mongol Empire.
 
1285 CE: The Samguk yusa ('Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms') is written by Iryeon in Korea.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2500 BCE 2000 BCE 1500 BCE 1000 BCE 500 BCE 0 CE 500 CE 1000 CE