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Michael J. Seth
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A History of Korea: From Antiquity to the Present annotated edition

by Michael J. Seth (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
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In this comprehensive yet compact book, Michael J. Seth surveys Korean history from Neolithic times to the present. He explores the origins and development of Korean society, politics, and its still little-known cultural heritage from their inception to the two Korean states of today. Telling the remarkable story of the origins and evolution of a society that borrowed and adopted from abroad, Seth describes how various tribal peoples in the peninsula came together to form one of the world's most distinctive communities. He shows how this ancient, culturally and ethnically homogeneous society was wrenched into the world of late-nineteenth-century imperialism, fell victim to Japanese expansionism, and then became arbitrarily divided into two opposed halves, North and South, after World War II. Tracing the past seven decades, the book explains how the two Koreas, with their deeply different political and social systems and geopolitical orientations, evolved into sharply contra
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  1. ISBN-10
    0742567168
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0742567160
  3. Edition
    annotated edition
  4. Publisher
    Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
  5. Publication date
    November 16, 2010
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1.75 x 9 inches
  8. Print length
    552 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Michael Seth somehow manages to pack an enormous amount of information into his short overview of the Korean peninsula's long history. With a useful glossary and a helpful bibliography, A History of Korea is especially recommended for those without any prior knowledge of Korean history and culture. (Lie, John)

About the Author

Michael J. Seth is associate professor of East Asian and world history at James Madison University.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; annotated edition (November 16, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 552 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0742567168
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0742567160
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.94 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.75 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

About the author

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Michael J. Seth

Michael J. Seth

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Michael Seth is a Professor of History at James Madison University who specializes in Korean and World history.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
24 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Donald R. Stephani
5.0 out of 5 stars The mysterious far East
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2013
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In order to gain any bit of a grasp of the development of any of the countries of Asia it really is necessary to view each and every one of them from antiquity to the present as they all have influenced each other. This book helps by explaining Korea's role and position. But, as I said, you need to understand the role of China, Japan, India and Russia to get a clearer picture of any of the countries of the area. And this is a task well worth undertaking.
8 people found this helpful
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Robert Guiberteau
4.0 out of 5 stars Review Korean History
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2014
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This book is like an outline for the ancient period which does not help to understand the cultural background of the people. I suggest
that the author spend more time and space on the ancient period to close the gap in the small amount of space awarded to it.
4 people found this helpful
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SH
5.0 out of 5 stars A good review of Korean history
Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2016
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A good review of Korean history. About have of the book on history in the 20 th and 21st century. I am glad I got it as it gave an ameture some understanding of Koreas past
One person found this helpful
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James D Witmer
5.0 out of 5 stars easy to read
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2015
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Phenomenal! If you have any interest at all in Korea you MUST read this. Well written, easy to read, extremely thought provoking and very informative.
3 people found this helpful
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dwood78
4.0 out of 5 stars Korean History 101...
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2012
Korean pop culture (TV dramas & K-pop) has recently gathered popularity outside of the Korean peninsula. Yet few people know of the vast history of the people who live there which goes back 2 millennium in terms of recorded history.

This book, written by an associate professor of East Asian at James Madison University gives a very in-depth look into Korean history. From the Neolithic period, to The Three Kingdoms Era with the rise of Baekje, Silla & Goguryeo, the latter's name was inherited by the Goryeo Dynasty who would unite the Later Three Kingdoms (Silla, Baekje & Hugoguryeo or Later Goguryeo under one rule & where the English word "Korea" originates. This early history I found to be very interesting, though the book spends less than 80 pages on this time period.

The 2nd part of the book covers the Joseon Dynasty, successor to Goryeo which ruled the peninsula until 1897. There's a lot more info on the lives of not only the rulers during this period but on Korean society as a hole. It was during this period that the Korean alphabet (Hangul) emerged, prior to which Koreans used Hanja (Chinese characters) for documentation. The book also goes into the 35 year period in which Korea was a colony of Japan & how it got slit into 2 countries-mainly to keep the Soviets, which had invaded the land following its declaration of war against Japan near the end of WW II from occupying the whole peninsula, as well as the different paths they took-the North becoming an isolated family ruled dictatorship while the South, which was under military rule & martial law became a true democracy & major economic power house that it is today.

Though it's over 550 pages, this is a page turner filled with valuable info & is well researched. Look no farther if you're looking for a book on Korean history.
32 people found this helpful
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kmoore
5.0 out of 5 stars Korea is Beautiful
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2013
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I ordered this little mama jamma for the hubs. He liked it and it got here efficiently. There weren't any cons.
3 people found this helpful
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garywroutson
5.0 out of 5 stars a fully documented history
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2014
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No questions unanswered . I have a good friend who is Korean and I wanted to communicate better. Well written.
3 people found this helpful
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RJC
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2016
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Great condition layed out well
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Top reviews from other countries

David Walter
5.0 out of 5 stars Korea is fascinating
Reviewed in Australia on January 14, 2023
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In one sense, I am glad this is a 'concise' history, but if you want a through, balanced and well written overview of the history of the Korean Peninsula and its peoples, this seems to more than fit the bill. The text continues up until just before covid and the more recent decades seem as fair and balanced in their appraisals as earlier history. I found the book rather long, but never flagging in interest. A good primer to the fascinating history of the Korean peoples.
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Pastena Carlo
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2015
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Ok
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Patrizia Leone
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written and interesting.
Reviewed in Italy on June 27, 2014
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This was the first history book that I bought for myself after the compulsory school books. I wanted to know more about the Korean history starting from the very beginning and I found this book was exactly what I was looking for as it is written in a very clear and fluent way and it explains all the facts in detail. I am really enjoying it and I would highly recommend it.
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