History

What's New
1.
Key events in Taiwan's history
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Figures updated
　The beauty of Taiwan was recognized by the Portuguese in the mid- 16th century, when they called it Ilha Formosa, or "beautiful island." In less than four hundred years, the island has developed into one of the most modern countries in the world, with a population of nearly 23 million. The self-sufficient agrarian economy of Taiwan was transformed in the second half of the 20th century into a vigorous and advanced economy, with per capita GNP reaching US$13,157 in 2003. Despite being ruled by colonial regimes in the 17th and 20th centuries and martial law for 40 years after World War II, Taiwan's peaceful democratization has been acclaimed as a "quiet revolution." All these miracles unique in the history of Taiwan took place in a short period of time. This chapter briefly summarizes the history of this remarkable island.

key words
agrarian : concerning farmland or its ownership.
colonial : related to countries ruled by a more powerful, distant ciuntry.
regime : a particular type of government.
martial : concerning war or soldiers.
acclaim : to praise publicly; strong expressions of approval and praise.