This is a timeline of the history of Korea. Some dates prior to the 5th century are speculative or approximate. For era names see Era names in Korean history.
Early history
2333 BC: Legendary establishment of Gojoseon by Dangun. 1500 BC: Beginning of the Mumun pottery period. 700 BC: Beginning of the Liaoning bronze dagger culture. 323 BC: Estimated beginning of the Gojoseon-Yan War that eventually ends in Gojoseon's loss of the Liaodong penninsula to Yan. 300 BC: Beginning of the Iron Age. 300 BC: Establishment of Jin in southern Korean peninsula.
Proto-Three Kingdoms
195 BC: Establishment of Wiman Joseon. 108 BC: Han dynasty destroys Wiman Joseon, establishing four commanderies in northern Korean Peninsula. 100 BC: Buyeo, which Goguryeo and Baekje claim descent from, is established sometime around the 1st century BC. 57 BC: Traditional date for the founding of Silla by Bak Hyeokgeose, who is elected leader. 37 BC: Traditional date for the founding of Goguryeo by Jumong, a Prince of Buyeo. 18 BC: Traditional date for the founding of Baekje by Onjo, a Buyeo Nobleman or the third son of Jumong according to different sources.
Three Kingdoms
42: Traditional date for the founding of Gaya by Suro. 53: Goguryeo begins to become a centralized kingdom under Taejo's reign. 234: Baekje begins to become a centralized kingdom under Goi's reign. 244: Goguryeo is defeated by Cao Wei in the Goguryeo–Wei War, the defeat is so severe that Goguryeo is not mentioned again in Chinese historial record for decades. 313: Goguryeo destroys Lelang Commandery, ending the last of the four Han Chinese commanderies established by the Han Dynasty. 356: Silla becomes a centralized kingdom under Naemul's reign. 371: Baekje's King Geunchogo invades Goguryeo and kills King Gogugwon. 372: Under Sosurim, Goguryeo imports Buddhism from Former Qin of China and adopts it as state sponsored religion. 372: Sosurim also establishes Korea's first National Confucian Academy. 384: Chimnyu of Baekje officially adopts Buddhism. 392: Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo begins his reign, expanding Goguryeo into a major regional power. 413: Jangsu of Goguryeo erects the Gwanggaeto Stele. 433: Baekje and Silla form an alliance against Goguryeo's aggression. 475: Goguryeo attacks Baekje and captures Hanseong (modern day Seoul). Baekje moves its capital south to Ungjin (modern-day Gongju) due to Goguryeo's pressure. 494: Last remains of Buyeo absorbed by Goguryeo. 498: Baekje attacks Tamna (modern-day Jeju Province). 512: Silla vassalizes Usan (modern-day Ulleungdo). 527: Silla formally adopts Buddhism after Beopheung of Silla executes Ichadon, a Buddhist convert who had tried to persuade the king to adopt Buddhism. Before he was executed, Ichadon predicted that milk colored blood would spill from his body after his death. This supposed miracle allegedly occurred according to the Samguk Sagi and convinced Silla's royal court to adopt Buddhism as its state religion. 538: Baekje moves its capital to Sabi (modern-day Buyeo). 553: Silla attacks Baekje, breaking the alliance. 562: Silla completes annexation of Gaya. 598: First of a series of major Sui dynasty attacks in the Goguryeo–Sui War, which ends in 614 in a costly defeat for Sui. 612: Goguryeo repulses second Sui invasion at the Salsu. 631: Goguryeo builds the first Cheolli Jangseong following Tang incursions into Goguryeo's northwestern border. 645: First campaign in the Goguryeo–Tang War. 648: Silla establishes alliance with Tang. 660: Baekje falls to the Silla-Tang forces. 663: Battle of Baekgang, the remnants of Baekje allied with Japanese expeditionary forces are defeated by the Silla-Tang alliance, ending all hopes for the restoration of the kingdom. 668: Goguryeo falls to the Silla-Tang forces.
North–South States Period and Later Three Kingdoms
676: Silla repels Chinese alliance forces from Korean peninsula, completes unification of much of the Three Kingdoms. 698: The founding of Balhae by former Goguryeo general Dae Joyeong. 751: Silla, at its cultural peak, constructs Seokguram and Bulguksa. 828: Jang Bogo establishes Cheonghaejin, a major center of trade with China, Japan, and Vietnam. 892: Silla begins to lose control of parts of the peninsula as the brief Later Three Kingdoms period begins. 897: Queen Jinseong of Silla dies. She was the third and last queen regnant in Korean history. 900: Hubaekje ("Later Baekje") established in the southwest of the peninsula. 901: Taebong ("Later Goguryeo") established in the northwest of the peninsula. 918: Founding of Goryeo by Taejo of Goryeo. 926: Balhae falls to Khitan forces. 935: Silla formally surrenders to Goryeo. 936: Hubaekje formally surrenders to Goryeo.