Best Capital

Pierre Bourdieu (1930–2002) was a French sociologist who developed the concepts of cultural capital, habitus, and field, with Distinction (1979) being a landmark empirical study of taste and class in France.

The Lion Capital of Ashoka is a sandstone relic originating from Sarnath, India. Crafted around 3rd century BCE during the Mauryan Empire, it features four lions representing Buddhist dharma and stands as a significant symbol of Indian governance. The capital’s design served as the prototype for the...

The Yin Ruins at Anyang represent the remains of the last capital city of the Shang Dynasty, located in Henan Province, China. Occupied from approximately 1300 to 1046 BC, the site was discovered in the early 20th century. It is most notable for the excavation of oracle bones and shells, which bear...

Hattusa was the capital city of the Hittite Empire, situated in central Anatolia near modern-day Boğazköy, Turkey. The site was occupied from approximately 1650 to 1200 BCE and is distinguished by its massive stone fortifications, underground tunnels, and the Great Temple complex. It also contained...

The Templo Mayor was the main ceremonial pyramid of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital founded around 1325 CE on an island in Lake Texcoco. Located in present-day Mexico City, the pyramid was the religious and political center of the Aztec Empire. The structure consisted of twin staircases dedicated to...

Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital located in northern Asia. It’s notable for its long history as a major political and cultural center within the country. The city features the Old Quarter with its distinctive architecture and bustling street markets. Hanoi serves residents and visitors interested in exper...

Thomas Piketty is a French economist whose research examines income inequality, wealth distribution, taxation, and the historical evolution of capital. His book Capital in the Twenty-First Century assembled long-run tax and inheritance data to analyze wealth concentration and the relationship betwee...

Tsarevets is a medieval stronghold situated on a hill of the same name in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. It served as the primary fortress and royal seat of the Second Bulgarian Empire from the 12th to the late 14th century. The site contains the reconstructed ruins of the royal palace, the Patriarchal C...

Wari (also known as Huari) is an archaeological site in the Ayacucho Region of Peru that served as the capital of the Wari Empire. Flourishing between roughly 600 and 1000 CE, this Middle Horizon settlement was one of the first expansive Andean states. The site features dense urban architecture, inc...

Muscat Bay is a natural harbor situated on the Gulf of Oman in the capital city of Muscat. The bay is flanked by two historic 16th-century Portuguese forts, Al Jalali and Al Mirani, which were constructed to protect the strategic maritime route following the Portuguese capture of the city. The harbo...

Polonnaruwa is a major archaeological site in Sri Lanka that served as the island nation's second capital from the 11th to the 13th centuries CE. Under rulers like King Parakramabahu I, the city was developed into a major urban and religious center with advanced irrigation systems, including the lar...

Anuradhapura is an ancient city in Sri Lanka that served as the island's first established capital from the 4th century BCE until the 11th century CE. It was a major political and religious center, recognized as the cradle of Theravada Buddhism in the country. The site contains massive brick stupas,...

The Gyeongju Historic Areas encompass the ruins and monuments of Gyeongju, which served as the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom in South Korea from 57 BCE to 935 CE. The city is often referred to as a museum without walls due to its high concentration of historical structures and artifacts. The...

The Yin Ruins, located in Anyang in China's Henan Province, represent the archaeological remains of Yin, the final capital of the Shang Dynasty. Occupied from approximately 1300 to 1046 BCE, the site provides crucial evidence for the existence and sophistication of early Chinese civilization. It is...

Sukhothai is an extensive archaeological site in north-central Thailand that served as the capital of the first Kingdom of Siam, founded in the 13th century. The historical park preserves the ruins of the early Thai empire, which is noted for its distinctive architectural style featuring lotus-bud s...

The Clásico Capitalino is a major Mexican football derby contested between Club América and Club Universidad Nacional, commonly known as UNAM Pumas. Both clubs are based in Mexico City, and their matchups represent a significant cultural and geographic divide within the capital. The rivalry official...

Ljubljana Castle is a medieval hilltop fortress that overlooks the historic center of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. The site has been continuously occupied and fortified since its initial construction in the 11th century, serving variously as a defensive structure, a residence for provincial r...

Nimrud is an ancient Assyrian archaeological site in northern Iraq, originally established as the capital city of Kalhu by King Ashurnasirpal II in the 9th century BCE. The site is distinguished by its monumental architecture, including the Northwest Palace, which was historically adorned with colos...

Nineveh, near modern Mosul in Iraq, was the largest city in the world at its height and served as the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire under kings including Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal until its fall in 612 BCE.

Amarna in Middle Egypt was the short-lived capital city founded by Pharaoh Akhenaten around 1346 BCE to promote the monotheistic worship of Aten, abandoned shortly after his death and never reoccupied.

The Finance Simulation: Capital Budgeting, offered by Harvard Business Publishing, challenges students to make corporate investment decisions and evaluate financial risk in a virtual company.

The University at Albany, officially known as the State University of New York at Albany, is a public research university located in Albany, New York. Founded in 1844 as the New York State Normal School, it is the oldest institution in the SUNY system. The university offers a comprehensive range of...

Assur, located on the western bank of the Tigris River in northern Iraq, served as the original capital of the Assyrian state and remained a religious and cultural center throughout Assyrian history. The city was continuously occupied from around 2600 BCE and contains the remains of temples dedicate...

Merv is a major archaeological complex at an oasis in present-day Turkmenistan, near the historic routes linking Central Asia, Iran, and the wider Silk Road. Successive settlements occupied the area from the Bronze Age through the medieval period, creating several adjacent walled cities rather than...

Maratha hill fort in Maharashtra, India, that served as Chhatrapati Shivaji's primary capital for roughly 25 years before he relocated his seat of power to Raigad Fort.

2014–2015 Houthi seizure of Yemen's capital Sanaa, a pivotal event that triggered Saudi Arabia's military intervention and escalated the broader Yemeni civil war.

The University of Canberra is a public university located in the Australian Capital Territory, established in 1967 and distinguished by its high graduate employment outcomes.

Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines, Dublin, is headquarters of the Irish Army's 2nd Brigade and is named after republican leader and Minister for Defence Cathal Brugha.

Nisa is an ancient archaeological site in Turkmenistan that served as the royal headquarters of the Parthian Empire around 250 BC, featuring monumental defensive walls and temples.