 Mountainous peninsula-create regionalism  Folk and Origin tales revolve around lake and mountain at Paektusan  Early Korea most influenced by those on the contiguous Asian continent (that is China and the northern “barbarians”)  Cold temperatures caused continual migrations

 Tan’gun founded Old Choson in 3000B.C. (morning calm)-remains the name for country of North Korea  Han’guk the name for South Korea (1890 origins)  Western name of Korea-comes out of Koryo dynasty ( )  Modern commentary explains Ancient Korea as mystical beginnings

 Korean Nationalist historians: promote linear homogeneous evolution of the Korean peoples from Tan’gun to modern era.  Eternal lineage (similar to mandate of heaven concept)  Tan’gun birth is year one on S. Korean calendar  Nuclear Crisis put on hold in N. Korea (1993) when found Tan’gun’s tomb.

 They are the oldest continuous culture and group in history founded in 3000B.C. and declared this in the mid 1990’s.  Few groups can claim ongoing ethnic and language heritage (Japanese & Hebrew)  No written history of Korea until 300 B.C. and it was written by the Chinese.

 There is archeological evidence of the Neolithic period (via tools/pottery) in Korea  “Old Choson” Northern Korea-politically connected towns, bronze tools, horse- riding folks  Qin and Han Dynasty in China invade and occupy Korea

 Lolang center for Sino-Korean art and industry (essentially where China meets Korea)  3 “Federations” Kingdoms emerge: Chinhan, Mahan, Pyonhan  Out of Mahan emerges the State of Paekche-blended Chinese and indigenous culture occupies largest core area of Korea

 Koguryo-most of Northern Korea and battled continuously with the Chinese and the state of Paekche  Last kingdom-Silla bottom half of Korean peninsula  All 3 kingdoms utilized the geography of Korea, in particular river boundaries and mountain ranges to separate kingdoms  North Korea claim ties to Koguryo kingdom  Silla kingdom was the cradle of Korean high culture and development

 Were the 3 Kingdoms all ethnically Korean? Improbable considering intermingling and migrations from Japan and China Contemporary Koreans and Japanese must have ancient, common root despite their belief otherwise Development of separate cultural systems post 100 A.D. 3 Kingdoms constantly battling for dominance of Korean state however Silla most significant