• 57 BCE – 935 CE

Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of Korea. While the three kingdoms were in separate existence, Silla had the lowest population of approximately 850,000 people (170,000 households), which was significantly smaller than those of Baekje (3,800,000 people) and Goguryeo (3,500,000 people).

Founded by Hyeokgeose of Silla, of the Park family, the Korean dynasty was ruled by

• Gyeongju Kim (김, 金) clan for 586 years
• Miryang Bak (Park) (박, 朴) clan for 232 years
• Wolseong Seok (석, 昔) clan for 172 years

It began as a chiefdom in the Samhan confederacies, once allied with Sui China and then Tang China, until it eventually conquered the other two kingdoms, Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668.

Thereafter, Unified Silla occupied most of the Korean Peninsula, while the northern part re-emerged as Balhae, a successor-state of Goguryeo.

After nearly 1,000 years of rule, Silla fragmented into the brief Later Three Kingdoms of Silla, Later Baekje, and Taebong, handing over power to Goryeo in 935.