| One of the small, early, states which took Kaifeng as its capital was the [[Liang Dynasty]] ([[907]]-[[923]]), one of the [[Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms]] which emerged in the aftermath of the fall of the [[Tang Dynasty]]. | | One of the small, early, states which took Kaifeng as its capital was the [[Liang Dynasty]] ([[907]]-[[923]]), one of the [[Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms]] which emerged in the aftermath of the fall of the [[Tang Dynasty]]. |
− | During the Northern Song Dynasty, the city was known as Baijing. In the late years of the Northern Song, the city, roughly 60 km<sup>2</sup> in area, housed over one million people - a larger population than London would see until five hundred years later.<ref>Valerie Hansen, ''The Open Empire'', New York: W.W. Norton & Co (2000), 281.</ref> | + | During the Northern Song Dynasty, the city was known as Baijing. In the late years of the Northern Song, the city, roughly 60 km<sup>2</sup> in area, housed over one million people - a larger population than London would see until five hundred years later. Unlike in the earlier capital of [[Chang'an]], in Kaifeng there was no citywide curfew, and the pleasure quarters (for example), along with many restaurants, remained open all night.<ref>Valerie Hansen, ''The Open Empire'', New York: W.W. Norton & Co (2000), 281-282.</ref> |
| Baijing fell to invasion from the [[Jurchen]] [[Jin Dynasty]] in [[1127]]; the Jurchens surrounded the city and took prisoner [[Emperor Huizong]], along with much of the Imperial family. Kaifeng was then controlled by the Jin for over a hundred years, from 1127 until the Jin fell to the [[Mongols]] in [[1234]]. It would remain under Mongol control until the establishment of the [[Ming Dynasty]] in [[1368]]. | | Baijing fell to invasion from the [[Jurchen]] [[Jin Dynasty]] in [[1127]]; the Jurchens surrounded the city and took prisoner [[Emperor Huizong]], along with much of the Imperial family. Kaifeng was then controlled by the Jin for over a hundred years, from 1127 until the Jin fell to the [[Mongols]] in [[1234]]. It would remain under Mongol control until the establishment of the [[Ming Dynasty]] in [[1368]]. |