The first capital
No one is sure of the date of the first emperor, but the emperors
and empresses of Japan have come from one family for at least 1500
years. The court used to move to each emperor’s home. In AD710,
the people who helped rule the country decided to stay in one place.
They built a capital at Heijokyo, which means "Capital of the
Peaceful Fortress". This city id now called Nara. After 75
years, an emperor called Kammu decided the religious leaders had
become too powerful. He built a new capital a few kilometers away
form the temples of Nara at Heiankyo or "Capital of
Peace". This new city was the capital for nearly 400 years and
became known as Kyoto.
