Routledge - Capital Cities and Urban Form in Pre-modern China

Explore the history of Luoyang, one of the most significant urban centers in pre-Qin and early imperial China. Located in present-day Henan province, Luoyang served as the preferred site for dynastic capitals for nearly two thousand years. This scholarly work is the first in any Western language to examine this specific region and its urban evolution. The book tracks the development of six different capital cities that served eleven different dynasties. It begins with the Western Zhou dynasty, marking the appearance of the first capital city in Luoyang, and follows the progression through to the golden age of the Tang dynasty. By looking at the political histories of these cities, the text provides a detailed look at the rise and fall of these urban centers. Readers will gain a deep understanding of how urban form changed over time. This book is an essential resource for those studying the history of ancient Chinese civilizations, political structures, and the development of major urban centers in East Asia.