Capital Cities Quiz

What is a capital city?

• A capital city is the primary municipality in a country, state, province, or other subnational entity.
• It is typically a city that physically encompasses the government's offices and meeting places, with the status as capital often designated by law or constitution.
• Different branches of government may be in different settlements in some jurisdictions.
• The word capital derives from the Latin word caput, meaning 'head'.
• Major economic centers historically became the focal point of political power, and became a capital through conquest or federation.
• A capital city attracts politically motivated people and those whose skills are needed for efficient administration of national or imperial governments.
• Many modern capital cities are located in the center of countries for accessibility to the population and better protection from possible invasions.
• Governing entities sometimes plan, design, and build new capital cities to house the seat of government of a polity or of a subdivision.
• Some nation-states have multiple capitals, while several states have no capital.
• The capital city is usually a primary target in a war, as capturing it usually guarantees capture of much of the enemy government.
• The capital city has become a symbol for the state and its government and imbued with political meaning.
• National capitals were arguably less important as military objectives in other parts of the world, including the West, because of socioeconomic trends toward localized authority.