At Apollo Scholars, our mission is simple: to make history revision smarter, sharper and more inspiring. We know that when exams are around the corner, students do not just need lists of facts; they need clarity, structure and a way to turn knowledge into confident answers.
That is exactly why we have created our brand-new resource:
Buy Now: The Making of Modern China, 1936–1997
This complete revision guide is designed to help GCSE and A-Level students master one of the most fascinating, complex and important topics in modern history.
Why China, 1936–1997?
China’s journey from a fragmented, warlord-dominated land in the 1930s to a global powerhouse by the 1990s is one of the most dramatic transformations of the 20th century.
It is a story filled with:
- Civil war and revolution: Nationalists vs. Communists, and Mao Zedong’s rise to power.
- Ideological battles: From Maoism and mass mobilisation campaigns to Deng Xiaoping’s pragmatic reforms.
- Moments of crisis: The Japanese invasion, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Square.
- Global shifts: China’s role in the Cold War, the Sino-Soviet split and the opening of relations with the USA.
While it is dramatic, it is also dense. Students often struggle to connect the dots between economic policy, political change and social transformation. This guide is designed to make those connections crystal clear.
What is included inside the guide
This is not just a timeline or a list of leaders. It is a resource built to help students understand, analyse and succeed in exams.
Here is what you will find inside:
✅ Detailed Topic Summaries – each period (from 1936–1962 and 1962–1997) is broken down with engaging explanations that show not just what happened, but why it mattered.
✅ Causes and Consequences Tables – quick-reference pages that link events like the Civil War, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution to their deeper causes and long-term effects.
✅ Practice Questions – a wide variety of short-answer, essay-style and thematic questions, crafted to help students get comfortable applying their knowledge.
✅ Model Answer Guidance – clear walkthroughs showing how to structure strong responses, use evidence effectively and build convincing arguments.
✅ Mini-Biographies of Key Figures – from Mao Zedong and Jiang Jieshi to Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping, we bring the major players to life with concise profiles that highlight their roles, beliefs and significance.
✅ Key Terms & Concepts – from “democratic centralism” to “mass mobilisation,” every tricky term is explained in plain English.
✅ Historiography Snapshots – short insights into how historians debate Mao’s leadership, the Cultural Revolution and Deng’s reforms. This is perfect for top-level analysis.
✅ Thematic Timelines – see how politics, economy, society and foreign relations developed side by side, helping you connect ideas across the period.
✅ Exam Skills Tips – woven throughout, showing you how to tackle tricky essay questions, spot themes, and turn knowledge into top grades.
This guide has been designed with both GCSE and A-Level students in mind. It works whether you are:
- Just starting the course and want a roadmap to the whole topic.
- Revising before mocks and need clear summaries to cut through the detail.
- Preparing for final exams and want practice questions and model answers to test yourself.
It is also a great resource for teachers and parents who want to support students with structured, reliable and engaging content.
A note from our founder, Matt
“When I studied history, I often felt overwhelmed. There was so much detail, and it was not always clear what to focus on. With Apollo Scholars, I wanted to change that. This guide to modern China is built to give students clarity, confidence and the ability to not just memorise, but understand. If you can see how ideology, politics and economics all connect, then you can write brilliant essays and, more importantly, truly enjoy the subject. I am so proud to share this resource.”
— Matt, Founder of Apollo Scholars
Ready to explore?
The Making of Modern China, 1936–1997 is now available. It is more than just a revision guide. It is a toolkit for success, helping you navigate one of the most fascinating journeys in modern history and turn it into exam-ready knowledge.
Explore our other revision guides below:
Leave a comment