# the most important city in the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925 "2003-06-01T07:52:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/1 "2003-06-01T07:52:21Z")
What do you think is the most important city in the world? Use your own considerations and paramaters. For me, New York and Washington are up there, but I’ll go with Jerusalem. For another twist, what about the world’s most important city in other time periods? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/2 "2003-06-01T07:58:20Z")
New York City, and anybody who says otherwise should go to Jersey. 😉 The UN is here, so international politics is represented. The NYSE and Wall Street are here, so the world’s major financial dealings go down here as well. Broadway is here, and the museums (MOMA, the Met, Museum of Natural History), the culture… sorry, no contest here. I know people are killing themselves left and right over it, but why Jerusalem - aside from that fact that you’re in Israel? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/3 "2003-06-01T10:58:05Z")
Well, I’ll go with San Francisco. I base this on “what one city would you save from a nuclear holocaust”. I get to use my own considerations and parameters, like you said. I’d save SF (not SanFran or Frisco, you plebes), because it is the most tolerant, vibrant, and altogether most livable city on the planet. Of those I’ve visited, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/4 "2003-06-01T11:22:21Z")
In the 20th and 21st centuries, for the seat of government: Washington. For the financial world: New York. Berlin was quite pivotal in the mid-20th century. And London. Early 20th, I’d say Moscow. For the late 19th century, I’d say London, because of the Empire. Late 18th/Early 19th: Paris (revolution and Napoleon). And of course Rome has been pretty damned important on and off from the time of the Empire to the time of Papal decrees carving up South America, the Inquisition, etc. Before that, Athens. Before that, Peking. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/5 "2003-06-01T11:46:40Z")
Another vote for New York City. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/6 "2003-06-01T12:04:38Z")
The capitol of the free world, which is trying for world dominion, is in Washington. Sounds pretty important to me! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/7 "2003-06-01T12:41:24Z")
For what it’s worth: From Google: [“most important city” “new york city”](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22most+important+city%22+%22new+york+city%22): 526 [“most important city” “washington dc”](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22most+important+city%22+%22washington+dc%22) : 548 [“most important city” “san francisco”](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22most+important+city%22+%22san+francisco%22) : 747 [“most important city” jerusalem](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22most+important+city%22+jerusalem) : 1260 ---
**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/8 "2003-06-01T12:42:20Z")
As much as I hate to admit it…I’d go for New York too… why Jerusalem though? religion? regional military? besides that I don’t see why…it doesn’t beat New York, Paris, London, Tokyo…etc ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/9 "2003-06-01T14:10:55Z")
I’ll say New York (never been there, though)… but I’m wondering which city would be the most important, say… 50 years from now? Shanghai perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/10 "2003-06-01T18:06:28Z")
New York is my favorite city, but Washington DC is currently most important. Ask the people in Baghdad who had more influence on them. ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/11 "2003-06-01T18:33:34Z")
Los Angeles. Yeah I’m biased, but given the concentration of media sources here, and the influence of American TV and movies around the world, I’d say that LA does more to shape world-wide mores and values than New York does. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/12 "2003-06-01T18:36:32Z")
I’d have to say New York City as well, with D.C second, and maybe Tokyo third. Hong Kong, LA, Seattle, London, and Rome would also be contenders. But yes, I’m also wondering, why Jerusalem? ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/13 "2003-06-01T19:14:53Z")
I’m with the OP. Jerusalem. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/14 "2003-06-01T19:27:11Z")
Manatee, if you think LA media moguls control world opinion, just ask the media moguls who controls _them._ They’ll say, “the money guys from New York.” The thread title reminds me of a billboard that was everywhere when I lived in D.C. back in the '80s. It promoted “The Most Important Bank In The Most Important City In The World.” …what it failed to point out is, that at the time, D.C. had exactly one bank. (The rest of D.C.'s financial institutions were S&Ls.) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/15 "2003-06-01T19:55:08Z")
Will _somebody_ please say why Jerusalem? Clearly it’s important in a religious manner, and in the “little” matter of the Israel/Palestine problem - but in the latter case, it’s hardly the only problem there. What makes it so important? ---
**Author:** ![Geoduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@Geoduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geoduck)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/16 "2003-06-01T21:03:25Z")
For all time: Greenwich ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/17 "2003-06-02T04:29:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by curwin \* > \*\*For what it’s worth: > From Google: > [“most important city” “new york city”](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22most+important+city%22+%22new+york+city%22): 526 > [“most important city” “washington dc”](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22most+important+city%22+%22washington+dc%22) : 548 > [“most important city” “san francisco”](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22most+important+city%22+%22san+francisco%22) : 747 > [“most important city” jerusalem](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22most+important+city%22+jerusalem) : 1260 \*\* “most important city” “Paris”: 1070 hits “most important city” “st petersburg”: 1180 hits “most important city” “Moscow”: 1380 hits “most important city” “Rome”: 1570 hits “most important city” “London”: 1700 hits I don’t know if it means anything. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/18 "2003-06-02T05:07:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by curwin \* > For what it’s worth: > From Google: > “most important city” “new york city”: 526 > “most important city” “washington dc” : 548 > “most important city” “san francisco” : 747 > “most important city” jerusalem : 1260 \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > \*\*“most important city” “Paris”: 1070 hits > “most important city” “st petersburg”: 1180 hits > “most important city” “Moscow”: 1380 hits > “most important city” “Rome”: 1570 hits > “most important city” “London”: 1700 hits > > I don’t know if it means anything. \*\* You can add: “most important city” “los angeles” at 562 I wonder why the US Cities do so poorly (comparatively) in the Google rankings? Oh, and (more MPSIMS than IMHO) I’ve just realized that every place I’ve ever lived has been within 80 miles of one of four of the above cities. Guess I’m not much of a country boy… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/19 "2003-06-02T05:37:02Z")
> [@](#): > > I wonder why the US Cities do so poorly (comparatively) in the Google rankings? A speculation, but I’d imagine phrases like “London is the most important city in England” or “Rome is the most important city in Italy” are more common than their American equivalent. With political and economic power divided between Washington and New York and strong regional cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta, the US doesn’t have an indisbutably “first” city like many nations do. ---
**Author:** ![TitoBenito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@TitoBenito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TitoBenito)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925/20 "2003-06-02T06:38:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\* > > Before that, Athens. Before that, Peking. \*\* Actually Beijing wasn’t all that important in early Chinese history. Athens is probibly a lot older. The City (which changed names a whole lot) didn’t become a main center of Chinese politics until the Yuan in the 1200’s. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-city-in-the-world/178925.md?page=2)