In prehistoric times, people in the northern part of Korea lived in pit dwellings with straw roofs. In the south, they lived in houses built on stilts.

These early people's lives centered around a stone fire pit. Their houses faced southeast to catch the sun and block the cold winds.

In the mountains of central Korea, many people lived in nowa houses, wooden houses held together by mud and straw. Their roofs were made of thick wooden shingles, which were held down with heavy stones or logs. Nowa houses have no chimneys. The smoke from the fir

Many thatched-roof houses have simple fences made of sticks or stones. The walls of the houses are made of mud mixed with straw. In the colder northern provinces, roofs are very thick and hang low over the house. In the warmer southern part of Korea, roofs are thinner, and windows and porches are larger.

Not long ago thatched houses dotted the countryside throughout Korea. Today most thatched houses are found in "folk villages," living museums where traditional Korean culture is preserved.

The sarangbang was used as the bedroom, study and sitting room for yangban men. Decorations and furniture were simple: just a few cushions, a small writing desk, a chest or bookshelf and simple wooden holders for paper and brushes.

Larger yangban homes were divided into three parts: the sarangbang, the men's sitting

Some common words found in the essay are:
Choson Kingdom, , Province Nowa, nowa houses, straw roofs, traditional korean, anbang inner, thatched houses, yangban homes, roofs thick,
Approximate Word count = 558
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)