The Cultural Revolution was a socio-political movement in China from 1966 to 1976, initiated by Mao Zedong with the goal of preserving Chinese communism by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society, and to re-impose Maoist thought as the dominant ideology. It led to significant upheaval, including the persecution of intellectuals, destruction of cultural artifacts, and a cult of personality around Mao.