A Life Journey of Mao Zedong Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Life Journey of Mao Zedong - Essay Example Mao was born when the Qing Dynasty was on the course of the breakdown of its powers over the ruling of China. For two hundred fifty years, Qing Dynasty ruled China with strictness. But they were in a quandary as to how to hold on to their authority. The rulers were in a difficulty over the peoples’ unrest. For over thirty years the Qing rulers had been trying to reorganize their land and naval forces and to equip them with modern Western weapons but Japan easily won in the war of 1894. (1) Foreign nations colonized the different parts of China. Powerful nations like Japan, France, Germany and Great Britain were interested in dominating China. Rebels tried to fight to regain Beijing in 1900, killing foreigners and Christian Chinese. This brought about more foreign invasions. Authorities in the other parts of China beheaded rioters and rebels. Qing Dynasty crushed down in October 1911 by the uprising of militant rebels. Though Spence briefly skimmed historical events during the early years of Mao’s life, significant dates, events, and persons were included. The book is a brief but close up portrait of Mao Zedong from his childhood years to the time when he ruled China. Spence combined history and storytelling on Mao’s climb to power. From a common villager without extraordinary talents to a learned man, Spence connected the series of events that led Mao to the peak of his rule. An interesting biography to read and understand this man with a great vision of China’s social and economic change.