🏛️ Lesson 48: Capital City Marathon

A capital city is usually where a country's national government sits. It may have parliament, president, courts, ministries, embassies, monuments, and national museums.

The capital is not always the biggest city. New York is bigger than Washington, DC. Toronto is bigger than Ottawa. Sydney is bigger than Canberra. Istanbul is bigger than Ankara.

Some capitals were built or chosen to balance regions or avoid rivalry. Washington, DC, Canberra, Brasilia, Islamabad, and Abuja are examples of planned or purpose-chosen capitals.

Some capitals grew from old kingdoms, empires, ports, or religious centers. London, Paris, Cairo, Rome, Beijing, and Tokyo carry deep historical weight.

Some countries divide capital functions. South Africa has executive, legislative, and judicial capitals. The Netherlands has Amsterdam as constitutional capital, while the government sits in The Hague.

Countries sometimes move capitals to reduce crowding, develop new regions, improve security, or symbolize a fresh start.