A Concise History of Premodern Korea
From Antiquity through the Nineteenth Century
4th Edition
Published on 12. March 2024
316 pages
979-8-216-33165-0 (ISBN)
Description
Now in a fully revised and updated edition including new primary sources and illustrations, this engaging text provides a concise history of Korea from the beginning of human settlement in the region through the late nineteenth century. Michael J. Seth's thorough chronological narrative equally emphasizes social, cultural, and political history. Students will be especially drawn to descriptions of everyday life for both elite and nonelite members of society during various historical periods. The book emphasizes how Korean history can be understood as part of an interactive sphere that includes three basic areas: China, Japan, and the Manchurian/Central Asian region. Throughout, Seth draws comparisons between developments in Korea and those in neighboring regions. All readers looking for a balanced, knowledgeable history will be richly rewarded with this clear and cogent book.
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03/2024
4th Edition
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
€94.60
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Person
Michael J. Seth is professor of East Asian and world history at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Professor Seth, who has lived and worked in South Korea, is the author of Education Fever: Society, Politics, and the Pursuit of Schooling in South Korea (2002), North Korea: A History (2018), and Korea at War (2023). He is also the editor of the Routledge Handbook of Modern Korean History (2016).
Content
Contents
Primary Source Readings
Preface to the Second Edition
Acknowledgments
Maps
Introduction
1 The Origins
The Koreans
Early Inhabitants
The Age of Rice Farming Begins
Sources for Early Korea
Choson
The Chinese Commanderies
Chinese Commanderies and Their Neighbors: The Northern Peoples
Chinese Commanderies and Their Neighbors: The Southern Peoples
Politics of the Third Century
Korea in Global Perspective: 5,000 Years of History
Notes
2 The Period of the Three Kingdoms, Fourth Century to 676
The Emergence of the Three Kingdoms
The Wa and Mimana
Korea and Northeast Asia in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries
Culture and Society of the Three Kingdoms
The Bone-Ranks, the Hwabaek, and the Hwarang
The Changing Environment of the Late Sixth and Seventh Centuries
The Unification of Korea under Silla
Korea in Global Perspective: State Formation
Notes
3 Late Silla, 676 to 935
The Peninsular Kingdom
Consolidation of Central Monarchical Rule under Silla, 676-780
Silla and the Chinese Model
Supporting the Silla State
Silla Society
Religion and Aristocratic Culture
Silla and Its Neighbors
Parhae
The Decline of Silla
The Later Three Kingdoms
Korea in Global Perspective: Silla's Rise and Fall
Notes
4 Koryo, 935 to 1170
The New Koryo State
Koryo in East Asia
Internal Politics, 935-1170
Koryo Culture
The Samguk Sagi
Koryo Society
Korea in Global Perspective: Koryo's Examination System
Notes
5 Military Rulers and Mongol Invaders, 1170 to 1392
Military Rule
Son Buddhism
Korea, Japan, and Feudal Europe
The Mongol Invasions
The Legacy of the Mongol Period
Late Koryo Society
The End of the Koryo
Late Koryo Culture
The Rise of Neo-Confucianism
Korea in Global Perspective: The Mongols and Korea
Notes
6 The Neo-Confucian Revolution and the Choson State, 1392 to the Eighteenth Century
Establishing the Yi Dynasty
The Neo-Confucianist Project
The Choson State
The Censorate and the Classics Mat
Historians
The Examination System
Education
Agricultural Improvements and the State
Military and Foreign Affairs
The Japanese and Manchu Invasions
Competition for Power among the Elite
Choson Politics in Perspective
Korea in Global Perspective: Choson as an Ideologically Driven State
Notes
7 Choson Society
The Family
Women During the Yi Dynasty
Social Structure
Slaves and Outcastes
Crime and Punishment
Religious Beliefs and Practices
Philosophy
Arts, Literature, and Science
Technology and Inventions
Korea in Global Perspective: Women in Korea
Korea in Global Perspective: Choson's Social Hierarchy
Notes
8 Late Choson, Early Eighteenth Century to 1876
The Politics of Late Choson
Late Choson and the Confucian World Order
Korean Travelers to China and Japan
Taxation and Reform
Agriculture
Commerce and Trade
Cultural Flowering of Late Choson
Sirhak
Everyday Life
Korea in Global Perspective: Korea's Place in the Early Modern World
Notes
9 Korea in the Nineteenth Century
Korea in the Nineteenth Century: The "Hermit Kingdom"
Internal Problems in the Nineteenth Century
Early Contacts with the West
External Threats and "Western Learning"
The Opening of Korea
The Legacy of Traditional Korea
Korea in Global Perspective: The Hermit Kingdom?
Notes
Appendix: Romanization
Glossary of Korean Words
Annotated Selected Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Primary Source Readings
Preface to the Second Edition
Acknowledgments
Maps
Introduction
1 The Origins
The Koreans
Early Inhabitants
The Age of Rice Farming Begins
Sources for Early Korea
Choson
The Chinese Commanderies
Chinese Commanderies and Their Neighbors: The Northern Peoples
Chinese Commanderies and Their Neighbors: The Southern Peoples
Politics of the Third Century
Korea in Global Perspective: 5,000 Years of History
Notes
2 The Period of the Three Kingdoms, Fourth Century to 676
The Emergence of the Three Kingdoms
The Wa and Mimana
Korea and Northeast Asia in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries
Culture and Society of the Three Kingdoms
The Bone-Ranks, the Hwabaek, and the Hwarang
The Changing Environment of the Late Sixth and Seventh Centuries
The Unification of Korea under Silla
Korea in Global Perspective: State Formation
Notes
3 Late Silla, 676 to 935
The Peninsular Kingdom
Consolidation of Central Monarchical Rule under Silla, 676-780
Silla and the Chinese Model
Supporting the Silla State
Silla Society
Religion and Aristocratic Culture
Silla and Its Neighbors
Parhae
The Decline of Silla
The Later Three Kingdoms
Korea in Global Perspective: Silla's Rise and Fall
Notes
4 Koryo, 935 to 1170
The New Koryo State
Koryo in East Asia
Internal Politics, 935-1170
Koryo Culture
The Samguk Sagi
Koryo Society
Korea in Global Perspective: Koryo's Examination System
Notes
5 Military Rulers and Mongol Invaders, 1170 to 1392
Military Rule
Son Buddhism
Korea, Japan, and Feudal Europe
The Mongol Invasions
The Legacy of the Mongol Period
Late Koryo Society
The End of the Koryo
Late Koryo Culture
The Rise of Neo-Confucianism
Korea in Global Perspective: The Mongols and Korea
Notes
6 The Neo-Confucian Revolution and the Choson State, 1392 to the Eighteenth Century
Establishing the Yi Dynasty
The Neo-Confucianist Project
The Choson State
The Censorate and the Classics Mat
Historians
The Examination System
Education
Agricultural Improvements and the State
Military and Foreign Affairs
The Japanese and Manchu Invasions
Competition for Power among the Elite
Choson Politics in Perspective
Korea in Global Perspective: Choson as an Ideologically Driven State
Notes
7 Choson Society
The Family
Women During the Yi Dynasty
Social Structure
Slaves and Outcastes
Crime and Punishment
Religious Beliefs and Practices
Philosophy
Arts, Literature, and Science
Technology and Inventions
Korea in Global Perspective: Women in Korea
Korea in Global Perspective: Choson's Social Hierarchy
Notes
8 Late Choson, Early Eighteenth Century to 1876
The Politics of Late Choson
Late Choson and the Confucian World Order
Korean Travelers to China and Japan
Taxation and Reform
Agriculture
Commerce and Trade
Cultural Flowering of Late Choson
Sirhak
Everyday Life
Korea in Global Perspective: Korea's Place in the Early Modern World
Notes
9 Korea in the Nineteenth Century
Korea in the Nineteenth Century: The "Hermit Kingdom"
Internal Problems in the Nineteenth Century
Early Contacts with the West
External Threats and "Western Learning"
The Opening of Korea
The Legacy of Traditional Korea
Korea in Global Perspective: The Hermit Kingdom?
Notes
Appendix: Romanization
Glossary of Korean Words
Annotated Selected Bibliography
Index
About the Author
