Page 343 - (DK) I Can’t Believe It! 2

TRUE OR FALSE? 341

Time to cross
SHRINKING WORLD OCEAN LINER, 2014—7 DAYS THE FIRST TRANSATLANTIC
the Atlantic: SAILING SHIP, 1600—2 MONTHS

PHONE CALL WAS
MADE FROM LONDON
PASSENGER AIRPLANE, 2014—8 HOURS
TO NEW YORK ON
MARCH 7, 1926.
FASTEST PASSENGER AIRPLANE (CONCORDE), 1996—2 HOURS, 53 MINUTES
BIG STADIUMS REVOLTING WORLD
History is rife with revolutions. Here
are just five of the best (or worst,
depending on whose side you’re on):
American Revolution (1775–1783):
13 colonies throw off British rule to
become the United States of America.
The Circus Maximus used for
chariot racing in ancient Rome held French Revolution (1789–1799):
300,000 people. This is twice Monarchy is abolished, the king loses his
the capacity of the largest stadium in the head, and France becomes a republic.
world today, in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Chinese Revolution (1911): China’s
last imperial dynasty, the Qing, is ROMAN STATUES
overthrown and China forms a republic. WERE MADE WITH
DETACHABLE
IN
MIGHTY TENOCHTITLAN Russian Revolution (1917): HEADS, SO THAT
1519,
ONE HEAD COULD
THE AZTEC
Revolutionaries topple the tsar (emperor)
CAPITAL OF
BE REMOVED
AND REPLACED
and set up a Communist government.
AZTECS
HAD 250,000
INHABITANTS— Iranian Revolution (1989): An Islamic WITH ANOTHER.
FIVE TIMES LARGER THAN republic is set up in Iran after the shah
LONDON AT THE TIME.
(king) is deposed.
Hangchow Nanjoing Beijing Beijing
(China) (China) (China) (China)
250,000 485,000 705,000 1,100,000 people
people people people London New York New York Tokyo Tokyo
(UK) (USA) (USA) (Japan) (Japan)
6,480,000 7,774,000 12,463,000 23,000,000 33,000,000
people people people people people
Hangchow Beijing Constantinople London
(China) (China) (Turkey) (UK)
430,000 people 675,000 people 700,000 people 2,300,000 people
1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1850 1900 1925 1950 1975 2005
US_340_341_TOF_HistoryAndCulture.indd 341 19/12/17 3:51 pm