Page 41 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Beijing

Moments in History ❮❮ 39

1912: The End of Empire
6 TOP 10 CHINESE INVENTIONS
The last emperor, Pu Yi,
was only three years old when he
ascended the throne. Four years
later, in February 1912, he was
forced to abdicate by general Yuan
Shikai’s new National Assembly.
1949: Founding of the
7
People’s Republic of
China
In January 1949, Communist forces
led by Mao Zedong seized Beijing.
On October 1, Mao proclaimed the
People’s Republic of China from Chinese magnetic compass
the gallery of the Tian’an Men.
1 Porcelain
The Chinese invented porcelain 1,000
years before Europe caught on – and
kept production methods secret to
protect their competitive advantage.
2 Printing
In the 11th century, the Chinese carved
individual characters on pieces of clay,
inventing movable block type.
3 Paper money
This was developed by Chinese
merchants as certificates of exchange.
Mao’s 1965 Cultural Revolution Lighter than coins, bills were soon
adopted by the government.
1965: Launch of the
8 4 Gunpowder
Cultural Revolution
Having socialized industry and Stumbled on by Daoist alchemists
seeking the elixir of life.
agriculture, Mao called on the 5 Seismometer
masses to transform society itself. A ball fell from one of four dragons’
All distinctions between manual and mouths to indicate the direction of
intellectual work were to be abolished the earthquake.
and the class system was to be 6 Abacus
eradicated. The revolution reached Invented during the Yuan dynasty and
its violent peak in 1967, with the Red still in use throughout China today.
Guards spreading fear and havoc. 7 Magnetic compass
1976: The Death of Mao
9 Developed from an instrument used
for feng shui and geomancy, it helped
On September 9, 1976 Mao
died. His long-time opponent Deng the Chinese explore the world.
8 Paper
Xiaoping became leader, implement- A prototype paper was made from
ing reforms that encouraged greater mulberry bark, although bamboo,
economic freedom. hemp, linen, and silk were also used
to write on.
2008: Beijing Hosts the
0 9 Crossbow
Olympics
In 2008, Beijing hosted the Olympic Better range, accuracy, and
penetration than the standard bow.
Games. The city revamped its infra- 10 Decimal system
structures, and some of the most Developed alongside the writing
striking and innovative buildings system, the decimal system led to
were created to house the various mathematical advances.
competitions (see pp44–5).

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