Song - (960 - 1279)

Often called the Golden Era of Chinese culture, the Song Dynasty was ushered in by a military coup of the commander of the palace guard of the last Five Dynasties emperor, Zhao Kuangyin. The brief Five Dynasties chaotic period of warring feudal states thus gave way to the great creative age that put China ahead of the rest of the world in terms of technological invention, material production, political philosophy and elite culture. The period of the Song was divided into the Northern Song with its caiptal at Kaifeng and the Southern Song which, after an invasion by the Ruzhen in the north with the consequent formation of the Jin Dynasty, established its capital in Hangzhou in the south. This southern capital had qualities like that of Venice with canals and waterways being a major route for transport. When you consider that Venice at the time had a population of only 50,000 and Hangzhou had estimates of over 2.5 million, you can understand Marco Polo's fascination with urban life in China.

Next dynasty -> Northern Song