Samhan

Samhan is the collective name for the Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan confederacies, which flourished south of the Han River before Korea’s Three Kingdoms period.

Mahan: A confederacy of communities in southwestern Korea during the Samhan period, later absorbed into Baekje. Mahan was the largest Samhan confederacy and occupied the southwest.
Gojoseon: An ancient Korean kingdom traditionally dated from antiquity until its conquest by Han China in 108 BCE. Gojoseon's fall reshaped political conditions in the peninsula before Samhan's rise.
Korean confederacies: Political alliances of autonomous communities in early Korean history, often lacking a single centralized ruler. Samhan's constituent communities are commonly understood through this political form.
Three Kingdoms of Korea: The historical period dominated by Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, conventionally dated from the first century BCE to 668 CE. Samhan preceded the Three Kingdoms and contributed to their political formation.
Jinhan: A confederacy of communities in southeastern Korea during the Samhan period, associated with the early Silla polity. Jinhan formed the southeastern part of Samhan and preceded Silla.
Wiman Joseon: A state in northern Korea that ruled from the second century BCE until Han China conquered it in 108 BCE. Its defeat and the establishment of Han commanderies affected migrations and regional power.
Chiefdom: A political system in which ranked communities are coordinated under a chief, without a fully centralized state. Chiefdom models help describe authority within Samhan's decentralized communities.
Silla: A Korean kingdom that grew from southeastern Korea and unified much of the peninsula in the seventh century. Silla emerged from the Jinhan region and became a leading kingdom.
Byeonhan: A confederacy of communities in southeastern Korea during the Samhan period, known for iron production and trade. Byeonhan occupied the southern coast and developed into Gaya polities.
Four Commanderies of Han: Administrative districts established by Han China in former Wiman Joseon territory after 108 BCE. Their presence forms part of the wider setting for Samhan's early development.

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