Joseon

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/joseon

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the capital of Joseon?Hanyang (present-day Seoul)
2. What is Joseon known for?Creation of Hangeul (Korean alphabet)
3. What is the founding monarch?King Taejo (Yi Seong-gye)
4. What is the dominant ideology?Neo-Confucianism
5. What was the Joseon Dynasty and how long did it last?The Joseon Dynasty was a Korean kingdom that lasted from 1392 to 1897, more than 500 years. It was known for its kings, smart ideas, and beautiful palaces.
6. Who founded the Joseon Dynasty and why?General Yi Seong-gye, later called King Taejo, founded it in 1392. He wanted a stable, pure state based on Neo-Confucian ideas.

Neo-Confucianism: A revived and expanded form of Confucianism that became the dominant state ideology of Joseon.
Yangban: The ruling aristocratic class of Joseon, comprising civil and military officials and their families.
Hangeul: The native Korean alphabet, scientifically designed for ease of learning and use, promulgated in 1446.
Nobi: The lowest social class in Joseon, essentially unfree laborers or slaves.