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Emperor Wu of Han, the ruler of the world's foremost empire at the time, launched a massive invasion of Gojoseon from both land and sea. However, Gojoseon fiercely defended its capital, Wanggeomseong, for over a year, repelling the Han forces repeatedly. Ultimately, Gojoseon did not fall to military conquest but crumbled due to internal division and betrayal. After the war, Emperor Wu, despite his victory, executed or punished his own generals for the immense losses incurred. This historical fact demonstrates that Gojoseon, often considered a mythical state, was in reality a formidable power that stood equal to the superpower of its era.

In 1993, an artifact that astonished the world was unearthed at a construction site for a parking lot near the Neungsan-ri Tombs in Buyeo. This was the 'Baekje Gilt-Bronze Incense Burner'. Thanks to the sealed environment within the mud, it emerged into the world in a state of preservation so perfect that it defied its 1,400 years of history. The incense burner features a design where dragons support a lotus bud, atop which are intricately sculpted scenes of Mount Bongnae, where immortals reside, five musicians, and numerous flora and fauna. This incense burner, a masterful fusion of Buddhist and Taoist philosophies, is the ultimate masterpiece showcasing Baekje's original and outstanding metalworking techniques and high cultural standards.

Balhae was not a nation that merely responded passively to the Tang Dynasty's pressure. During the reign of King Mu, the second king, when the Tang Dynasty attempted to isolate Balhae by allying with surrounding powers, Balhae made the bold decision to preemptively attack the Tang mainland. In 732, Balhae's navy, led by General Jang Mun-hyu, launched a swift attack on Dengzhou, a strategic point on the Shandong Peninsula, killing the Tang governor of Shandong and capturing the city. This is the only naval battle record in our history where China's mainland was attacked first, resulting in a great victory, demonstrating Balhae's strong national power and bold spirit.

Just like modern people enjoy iced Americanos in the summer, people in the Silla Dynasty also consumed cool ice in midsummer. The secret lies in the Seokbinggo (Stone Ice House). In an era without electricity or freezers, the Silla people stored natural ice, collected from rivers in winter, in Seokbinggo to keep it from melting until midsummer. The core of Seokbinggo is its scientific internal structure. The ceiling was built with a double arch structure to block external heat, and soil and grass were planted on top to prevent heat transfer. Furthermore, warm air generated inside was naturally discharged through the ventilation holes at the top, and the water created by melting ice was designed to be immediately drained out through the sloped floor drainage system. It was essentially an ancient 'natural refrigerator' created by the wisdom and outstanding architectural science of our ancestors.

Did you know that Joseon had a world-class 'professional fire brigade' 600 years ago? In 1426 (the 8th year of King Sejong's reign), after a major fire devastated the capital, King Sejong established Korea's first professional firefighting organization, the 'Myeolhwagun' (Fire Extinguishing Army). Operating on a 24-hour standby system, the Myeolhwagun monitored fires day and night from watchtowers and was equipped with specialized firefighting tools like grappling hooks and water buckets, immediately dispatching to fires when they occurred. Having dedicated professional firefighters at a national level, operating 24 hours a day for fire prevention and rescue, was a remarkably advanced system for its time, rarely seen elsewhere in the world.

Before the reigns of King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo in the Joseon Dynasty, among the women of the yangban (aristocratic) class, wearing large and high 'gache' (traditional elaborate wigs) was a symbol of wealth and a major trend. Not only was the price of gache as expensive as a house, but its weight was also enormous, typically ranging from 3-4 kg, and in severe cases, exceeding 5 kg. This frequently led to tragic accidents where people broke their neck bones or suffered health problems due to the pressure from the gache. Eventually, when deaths occurred because of gache, King Jeongjo issued the 'Gache Prohibition Order' to ban the practice by law and commanded the adoption of the jokduri (a type of traditional Korean hat) instead, aiming to curb extravagance and protect the people's health. It was the dark side of Joseon's fashion, where the desire for splendor threatened even lives.

Did you know that 600 years ago, during the Joseon Dynasty, a system for male parental leave and female maternity leave was already in place? King Sejong the Great granted female government slaves a total of 130 days of leave before and after childbirth. This was due to Sejong's compassionate spirit, believing that the preciousness of life was the same, even for slaves, who were the lowest social class at the time. Even more surprising is that the husband, a male slave, was also granted a 30-day 'male parental leave' to help with the mother's recovery and childcare. The fact that male parental leave, which is still being discussed for institutional establishment in modern society, was guaranteed even to the slave class in 15th-century Joseon is extremely interesting.

Did you know about the fierce 'diplomatic battle for top scholar' waged by students from Silla and Balhae in the Tang Dynasty court? When Balhae student Oh So-do took the top spot in the 'Jesul-gwa,' a special imperial examination for foreigners in the Tang Dynasty, surpassing Silla, Silla strongly protested. The Silla court officially sent a letter of protest to the Tang Dynasty, demanding a change in rankings, asking, "How can a Balhae person receive a higher rank than Silla?" This is an interesting anecdote that shows Balhae's prowess, not only in military power that commanded the continent but also in academic excellence, so much so that they could even conquer the path to studying in the Tang Dynasty.

As August began, Sherman opted to cut off the Confederacy's supply lines entirely rather than attack Atlanta directly. Atlanta relied on railroads, making it difficult for the South to defend the city if its supply routes were severed. Starting August 25th, Sherman moved his forces significantly southward to attack the railroads connected to Atlanta. On August 31st, Union and Confederate forces clashed at Jonesboro, and the Union army succeeded in cutting off the Confederate rail supply lines. Hood, deeming it impossible to hold Atlanta any longer, withdrew from the city on the night of September 1st. The following day, September 2nd, Sherman's Union army entered Atlanta, effectively ending the Atlanta Campaign, which had lasted about four months. The fall of Atlanta resulted in the loss of a crucial industrial and railroad hub for the South. Simultaneously, it held significant political importance for the North, boosting President Lincoln's chances of reelection. Sherman then began his 'March to the Sea,' advancing from Atlanta to the Atlantic coast, further weakening the South's ability to wage war. Next, we'll cover the end of the Civil War!

As July began, the Union Army approached the outskirts of Atlanta. However, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, dissatisfied with Johnston's continuous retreats, dismissed him and appointed General John B. Hood as the new commander of the Army of Tennessee. Hood sought to halt Sherman's advance through aggressive attacks rather than solely defending. On July 20th, in the Battle of Peachtree Creek, Hood attacked the Union forces but failed to break their lines. Subsequently, on July 22nd, in the Battle of Atlanta, Hood attacked the flank and rear of the Union Army commanded by McPherson. The Confederates launched fierce assaults, inflicting significant damage, including the death of Union commander McPherson during the battle. However, the Union Army held its lines, and the Confederate attack failed. Sherman then shifted his forces west of Atlanta, attempting to cut off the Confederacy's last railroad supply line. On July 28th, there was another Confederate counterattack at Ezra Church, but the Union forces repelled it. Atlanta was now becoming increasingly isolated from the outside world.