고조선의 붕괴 원인

Abstract

After the disturbance of the ruling order in the 5th to 4th century B.C., the Old Choson was eventually divided into many polities in the 1st century B.C. Its division occurred simultaneously both in the south and north, as reflected by the establishments of Puyo in 59 B.C. and Silla in 57 B.C., respectively. The collapse of the Old Choson was caused by internal and external factors. The internal factors were the collapse of the social order followed by the changing economical conception from the expansion of bronze metallurgy and the widespread use of iron. The external factors were the wars against the Yan state, Weiman Choson and the Western Han which resulted in the loss of the state power. In the later period of the Old Choson, local powers began to share the bronze metallurgy. This means the formation of the local polities against the central power. The transition coincided with the widespread use of iron which increased labor forces and, in turn, stimulated land possessions. The change of economic conception about the land caused the competition toward lands, and this essentially swayed the existing social order. Under this circumstance, the Old Choson had to engage in the big wars against the Yan state, Weiman Choson and the Western Han. These three wars critically affected the existence of the state to the extent that it no longer sustained its ruling system. This marked the end of the Old Choson and the beginning of the multi-state period.