ABSTRACT
This chapter provides brief descriptions of capital city relocations and explores their rationales, focusing on the particular patterns and features specific to each continent and mega-region. It highlights the broad themes that are articulated in the urban plans of different regions. In the colonial countries of Africa and Asia, the capitals were typically sited in port cities and former trading posts, which funneled the agricultural products, timber, minerals, and other raw materials out into world markets. In the East-Central European countries the large-scale reconstructions of the capital cities and drastic changes of their iconography consistent with the new visions of their national identity were much more prevalent compared to capital city relocation plans. The concept of the capital in the hinterland of China bears comparison with the paradigm of debate in some post-colonial countries that have shifted their capitals from the coast inland.
