East Asia: China, Korea, Japan 500 BCE
The philosopher Confucius, whose teachings will influence millions of people down to the present day, lives at this time.
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What is happening in East Asia: China, Korea, Japan in 500BCE
China
The past centuries have seen the Zhou kingdom of northern China fragment into a number of large, highly organized states. These are continually at war with one another. Despite this, civilization has made huge strides in all spheres. The use of iron has come in from western Asia, and iron farming tools have come into widespread use. This has greatly increasing food production, and commerce and industry have also expanded.
An influential philosopher
This is leading to widespread social change, and into this fluctuating environment comes one of the most important philosophers in world history, Confucius. His teachings will be hugely influential on the life and thought of the peoples of East Asia from ancient times right up to the present day.
Korea and Japan
Bronze age Korea is divided into numerous small but warlike chiefdoms, whose aristocracies have developed a fashion for large stone-built graves (dolmens), often furnished with bronze weapons, fine ceramics and jade objects as burial goods. Contacts between Korea and Japan are growing. At this time groups of Koreans are migrating to Japan, introducing their culture, based on rice cultivation, and their knowledge of bronze working, to the southern Japanese island of Kyushu.
Next map, East Asia in 200 BCE
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The Zhou dynasty of ancient China
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Civilizations related to East Asia: China, Korea, Japan
1750BCE - 1050BCE Shang Dynasty China 1050BCE - 700BCE The Zhou Dynasty of Ancient China 500BCE - 1900CE Korean Civilization 250BCE - 200BCE The Qin Dynasty of Ancient China 200BCE - 200CE The Han Dynasty of Ancient China 250CE - 1850CE Japanese Civilization 589CE - 610CE Sui dynasty China 600CE - 1900CE Tibetan Civilization 600CE - 900CE Tang Dynasty China 950CE - 1300CE Song Dynasty China 1200CE - 1450CE The Mongol Empire 1350CE - 1650CE Ming Dynasty China 1650CE - 1900CE Qing Dynasty China 1800CE - 2000CE Modern China from the end of the Qing dynasty to present-day Communist China 1800CE - 2000CE Modern Japan 1900CE - 2000CE Modern KoreaSubscribe for more great content – and remove ads
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Middle East history 500BCE
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India and South Asia history 2500BCE
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South East Asia history 2500BCE
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Oceania history 2500BCE
A new phase in technology is beginning in Australia, and the migration of the ancestors of the Polynesians has begun from south China
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Europe history 1000BCE
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Trade routes across the Sahara desert are being pioneered, while, to the south, Bantu farmers continue their swift expansion across the continent
India and South Asia history 200BCE
The history of ancient India has seen the great Mauryan empire cover much of the subcontinent
South East Asia history 200BCE
Indian traders are bringing Hinduism, Buddhism and other elements of Indian civilization to South East Asia
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The first urban civilization of South East Asia has appeared, in Burma
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Middle East history 200CE
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Middle East history 500CE
The Middle East is divided between the Eastern Roman empire and the Persian empire
Europe history 500CE
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Africa history 500CE
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Oceania history 500CE
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