ArchDebates V

In the fifth edition of ArchDebates, experts from China, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany discussed the layout of purpose-built capitals and what their design reveals about the states and societies they served, as well as the concepts of power they imply. Although the construction of capital cities can be traced back to the third millennium BCE in Egypt and Mesopotamia, the establishment of new capitals became especially common from the eighth to tenth century CE in China, Japan, Korea, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean region. The discussions emphasized the importance of defining and distinguishing the roles and significance of specific capitals, many of which primarily served as seats of power rather than urban or economic centers. Furthermore, the debate highlighted the direct relationship between their construction and the need to demonstrate the legitimacy of power and a new order, often in religious and ideological terms. One point of contention was the intended permanence of these capitals; some were short-lived, while others, such as Beijing, Baghdad and Cairo, eventually became enduring urban centers.