Here's a breakdown:
* Northern Chinese Dialects: Mandarin evolved from the northern Chinese dialects, specifically the dialects spoken around the capital cities of the various Chinese dynasties.
* Beijing as the Center: During the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, Beijing was the capital city. The local dialect, known as "Jīnghuà", was gradually adopted as the standard language.
* Modern Mandarin: In the 20th century, the Chinese government standardized the language, based on the Beijing dialect, to create Putonghua (Common Speech) – the modern name for Mandarin.
While Beijing is considered the birthplace of modern Mandarin, it's important to remember that it's a complex language with various dialects and influences from different regions.