Chinese Babylon

Ancient Chinese Civilization originated in the Central Plain ，Yellow River basin， North China. Of all the areas of the Central Plain，Heluo area（where the Luo River runs into Yellow River）is of most significance.

It sites one of the greatest cities in eastern Asia or even in the world——Luoyang.

Predynastic Peroid——Longshan Culture（Chinese Sumer）

Heluo area is within the sphere of Longshan culture.To show the difference with Longshan sites found in western Shandong（Longshan itself） and southern Shanxi（Taosi），we recognize those sites found in Heluo area as 「Wangwan Culture」，naming after Wangwan，an Longshan site near Luoyang.

Longshan period corresponds the「Five Emperors」era in Chinese semi-legendary history，which is full of unknown mysteries.

Due to a great flood，Longshan culture declined，which just corresponds the decline of the Old Egyptian Empire 、Sumerian Empire and Indus Civilization.

Old dynastic Period（Xia Dynasty）（Chinese Paleo-Babylonian Empire）

Sino-tibetan speaking Xia Chinese migrated to the Central Plain and founded Xia Dynasty（ca.2000BC-1600BC）.Linguistically，the Old Chinese formed，with both Sino-tibetan and indigenous features.

It`s believed that the founder of Xia Dynasty , Yu the Great, made one of the oldest water conservancy project to fight against the flood.

Yu the great eventually succeeded and became the first king of dynastic China.His grandson Taikang made Zhenxun（today Yanshi County） as the capital of Xia dynasty.

In last century，archaelogists found an early bronze culture in Erlitou Country，Yanshi County，Luoyang City,naming it as Erlitou culture.It dates back to 1900BC to 1500BC.

Generally，many Chinese scholars consider it as Zhenxun，capital of Xia Dynasty，while others are also skeptical of it——No specific evidence from Erlitou itself indicates that it was the capital.

Erlitou is a great city site full of remains of palaces、civil structures and tombs ，and bronze、bone、ceramic artifacts.

Middle Dynastic Period（Shang dynasty）（Chinese Kassites）

Indigenous Shang Chinese abolished Xia Dynasty ，destroying Zhenxun in ca.1600BC.However，a brand new capital，Xibo，was built near the ruin of Zhenxun during the reign of Tang the Great， founder of Shang Dynasty.

Another capital was build in today Zhengzhou，which is later known as Erligang site.Both Erligang and Xibo belong to Erligang culture.The oldest oracle bones was founded in Erligang sites.

Pangeng，sixth king of Shang Dynasty，moved the capital to Yincheng（today Anyang City）.With the collapse of Yincheng，Chinese bronze age ended.

Neo-Dynastic Period（Western Zhou Dynasty）

Zhou Chinese ，who were closely related to Xia Chinese，conquested Central Plain.Zhou Dynasty had two capitals ,with Haojing in the west and Luoyi（the city of Luohe）in the east.It is the earliest prototype of modern-day Luoyang City.Luoyi was one of the most prosperous cities in the world at that time，along with Babylon.

The earliest record of Chinese characters「中國」is founded in the seal script on a ritual wine vessel form Western Zhou Dynasty.

In the seal script，「中國」means the central area of the world——Heluo area.

Classic Period（Eastern Zhou Dynasty）

After the Quanrong`s sack of Haojing，Ping emperor of Zhou moved to Luoyi.

Although the king of Zhou Dynasty was still titled as 「king of kings」，its actual domination shrank to Heluo area .Little duchies and kingdoms got stronger and fought each other.

Kingdom of Qin became one of the strongest powers.Qin rised from the west and occupied the homeland of Zhou Chinese.

Eventually ，Kingdom of Qin defeated all the other kingdoms and abolished Zhou Dynasty.Chinese history came into the imperial era.The city was renamed as Luoyang（「northern bank of Luo River」）.

First Empire of China

Qin dynasty was short lived，and replaced by Han Dynasty soon. Emperor Liuxiu made Luoyang the new capital，which was also succeeded by Cao Wei and Western Jin dynasties.

At the same time,Ctesiphon，the new metropolis in Babylonia was build，serving as the capital of Parthian and Sassanid empires.

Second Empire of China/First Babarian Uprising

Proto-Mongolian-speaking Xianbei people invaded the Central Plain and established Northern Wei Dynasty.Xianbei people admired the Chinese civilization and sinificated themselves.However，Xianbei also practised Buddhism，which made Luoyang a centre of Chinese Buddhism teachings.

Sui and Tang dynasties ended the Xianbei reigns and remake the unified Chinese Empire, making Chang`an the capital and Luoyang the major city.The size of Luoyang reached a high peak during the reign of Tang Dynasty.

After the collapse of Tang Dynasty ，five minor dynasties was established successively.Later Liang、Tang、Jin and Han ruled from Luoyang and Later Zhou ruled from Kaifeng ，another city in the Central Plain.

Great Song Dynasty reunified the most of China proper.The empire has four capitals，with Kaifeng the eastern capital and Luoyang the western capital.

At the same time,Abbasid Caliphate launched Islamic Golden Era，making its capital Baghdad the centre of the western world.

Third Empire of China/Second Babarian Uprising

Tungustic-speaking Jurchens revolted against Khitans ，establishing Jin Dynasty

In the Jingkang incident，Jurchens occupied the Central Plain.

However，Luoyang still served as one of five capitals during Jin era.The old city of Luoyang today dates back to Jin Dynasty.

The invincible Mongol empire conquested half of the world island.Both Luoyang and Babylon fell . From then on，Luoyang was no more of a great significance during Yuan、Ming and Qing dynasties.

In any case，Luoyang is the city with the longest continous urban history in eastern Asia，for more than 4000 years，along with babylon-ctesiphon-baghdad.

Although it is no more a economical and political centre ，the cultural remains seem as they are telling about the ancient glory of the city.