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Contemporary North and South Korea are nations of radical contrasts: one a bellicose totalitarian state with a failing economy; the other a peaceful democracy with a strong economy. Yet their people share a common history that extends back more than 3,000 years. In this comprehensive new history of Korea from the prehistoric era to the present day, Jinwung Kim recounts the rich and fascinating story of the political, social, cultural, economic, and diplomatic developments in Korea's long march to the present. He provides a detailed account of the origins of the Korean people and language and the founding of the first walled-town states, along with the advanced civilization that existed in the ancient land of "Unified Silla." Clarifying the often complex history of the Three Kingdoms Period, Kim chronicles the five-century long history of the Choson dynasty, which left a deep impression on Korean culture. From the beginning, China has loomed large in the history of Korea, from the earliest times when the tribes that would eventually make up the Korean nation roamed the vast plains of Manchuria and against whom Korea would soon define itself. Japan, too, has played an important role in Korean history, particularly in the 20th century; Kim tells this story as well, including the conflicts that led to the current divided state. The first detailed overview of Korean history in nearly a quarter century, this volume will enlighten a new generation of students eager to understand this contested region of Asia.

Table of Contents

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  1. Frontmatter
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  1. Title Page, Copyright
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  1. Contents
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  1. Acknowledgments
  2. p. ix
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  1. Introduction
  2. pp. xi-xx
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  1. 1. Dawn of the Korean Nation
  2. pp. 1-31
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  1. 2. The Period of the Three Kingdoms (57 BCAD 676)
  2. pp. 32-83
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  1. 3. Parhae, Unified Silla, and the Later Three Kingdoms (676–936)
  2. pp. 84-121
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  1. 4. The First Half of the Koryŏ Period (918–1170)
  2. pp. 122-154
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  1. 5. The Second Half of the Koryŏ Period (1170–1392)
  2. pp. 155-185
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  1. 6. The First Half of the Chosŏn Period (1392–1650)
  2. pp. 186-239
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  1. Image Plates
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  1. 7. The Second Half of the Chosŏn Period (1650–1910)
  2. pp. 250-320
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  1. 8. The Period of Japanese Colonial Rule (1910–1945)
  2. pp. 321-366
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  1. 9. Liberation, Division, and War (1945–1953)
  2. pp. 367-421
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  1. 10. The Period of Postwar Reconstruction (1953–1971)
  2. pp. 422-467
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  1. 11. Reversal of Fortunes (1972–1992)
  2. pp. 468-518
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  1. 12. Both Koreas in a New Phase (1993 to the Present)
  2. pp. 519-608
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  1. Chronology
  2. pp. 609-629
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  1. Notes
  2. pp. 631-640
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  1. Bibliography
  2. pp. 641-644
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 645-684
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  1. About the Author
  2. p. 685
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