The modern history of Beijing When it was I'm going to talk about the capital city of my country, Beijing, and its modern history. It's located in the East of the country, close to the sea but it's not a coastal city. What happened It has an amazing history as it was the seat of many emperors but nowadays, it's a huge megacity with tall skyscrapers and is a massive business hub where most international companies have a headquarters, and it's this change that fascinates me. How you first heard about it As it's the capital of my country, I learnt about it in history classes and I remember doing a project about it in class as it is home to The Forbidden Palace, which was the home of emperors for over 500 years and is awe-inspiring. The Great Wall is just north of the city too so you can visit that and get a feel for life hundreds of years ago. And explain why you are interested in this period of history What gets me is how Beijing has changed so much in the last hundred years or so. It went from being the political center to being the business and cultural center too in a very short space of time. It's almost unrecognizable today from even 30 years ago, which to me is staggering.

I have always been fascinated by the Renaissance period, a pivotal epoch that unfolded between the 14th and 17th centuries. This era was a beacon of revitalization in art, literature, philosophy, politics, sciences, and exploration after the Dark Ages. I was first introduced to the Renaissance period during my high school history lessons, and my fascination was ignited immediately. What happened during the Renaissance was truly revolutionary. It was marked by the profound evolution of thought processes, a fervent curiosity about the world, and the blossoming of artistic and scientific innovations. It was when luminaries like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo transcended conventional boundaries, producing masterpieces that resonate even today. Leonardo da Vinci, epitomizing the Renaissance Man, delved into anatomy, mechanics, and aviation, and he painted the iconic 'Mona Lisa'. Meanwhile, Michelangelo sculpted 'David' and painted the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, imbuing them with life and emotion unparalleled in human history. This period also saw the voyages of explorers like Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama, who paved the way for the connectivity of different civilizations. This epoch intrigues me because it signifies humanity’s unwavering pursuit of knowledge, enlightenment, and aesthetic perfection. The curiosity and passion of the Renaissance thinkers and creators inspire me to question, learn, and create, and it reminds me of the boundless potentials of the human mind when driven by curiosity and passion.

• 複合文構造は豊富です：例えば、「It was when luminaries like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo transcended conventional boundaries, producing masterpieces that resonate even today.」のように複数の複合文が使用されています。「like」を使って例を列挙し、「producing」を使って分詞構造を形成しています。 • 様々な時制の使用：過去形や現在形を使って、異なる時期の状況を説明しています。例えば、「I was first introduced to the Renaissance period during my high school history lessons.」は過去形が使用されています。 • 一貫性と階層感：「meanwhile」「also」「because」などの言葉を使うことで、回答には良好な一貫性と階層感が示され、説明がより明確かつ論理的になっています。 • 正確で豊富な語彙の選択：「pivotal」「beacon」「resonate」などの言葉の使用により、回答には豊富で正確な語彙が展開され、説明がより鮮やかで具体的になっています。