Editing Samhan (section)

== Geography ==
The exact locations occupied by the different Samhan confederations are disputed. It is also quite likely that their boundaries changed over time. ''[[Samguk Sagi]]'' indicates that Mahan was located in the northern region later occupied by [[Goguryeo]], Jinhan in the region later occupied by [[Silla]], and Byeonhan in the southwestern region later occupied by [[Baekje]]. However, the earlier Chinese ''[[Records of the Three Kingdoms]]'' places Mahan in the southwest, Jinhan in the southeast, and Byeonhan between them.

Villages were usually constructed deep in high mountain valleys, where they were relatively secure from attack. Mountain fortresses were also often constructed as places of refuge during war. The minor states which made up the federations are usually considered to have covered about as much land as a modern-day [[Myeon (administrative division)|''myeon'']], or township.

Based on historical and archeological records, river and sea routes appear to have been the primary means of long-distance transportation and trade (Yi, 2001, p.&nbsp;246). It is thus not surprising that Jinhan and Byeonhan, with their coastal and river locations, became particularly prominent in international trade during this time.