Today, the capital and the major economic center of China is Beijing, housing 21.3 million people within its boundaries. Since October 1st of 1949 it has been the political center of the People's Republic of China. But many of China's allegiances lie with Chang’an. Chang’an, today known as Xi’an, was the capital of China for much of its existence. During the Tang Dynasty Chang’an was the cultural, political and actual center of the country. Being one of one of the largest cities in the world at the time, Chang’an provided for an example of early modernization to the rest of the ancient world. Through its history in the Tang Dynasty Chang’an developed into a major world city through architectural excellence, cultural promotion, and its location, but was also degraded by natural disaster and political disruption.
Chang’an, meaning Perpetual Peace in Chinese, was a city of much architectural significance. According The New Book of Tang, it was one of the largest cities of its time, in addition to being home to over 1.8 million people, it was also home to the eastern trading…show more content… During the Tang Dynasty there was a major attack that occurred on, not just Chang’an but the entirety of China. The An Lushan rebellion took place from 755-763 CE, and was orchestrated on a massive scale. According to Jennifer Jay in the Berkshire Encyclopedia of China, united under the name of a new dynasty, the Yan, the leader of the rebellion, An Lushan, “swept south from Fanyang (today’s Beijing region) with a multiethnic army of 150,000 to 200,000 troops”. Jay wrote that An Lushan was a military governor of three provinces in northern section of China, specifically the Pinglu, Fanyang, as well as a good friend to Tang Emperor Xuanzong Hebei regions. But Lushan later went against the Emperor. Lushan’s rebellion brought widespread famine and deaths by the
