Final answer:
The committee that included Mao Zedong during his later years was known as 'The Gang of Four,' which focused on ideological purity during the Cultural Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The small committee that included Mao Zedong during his retreat from the public eye due to ill health was known as "The Gang of Four." This group consisted of Mao's wife Jiang Qing, Wang Hongwen, Zhang Chunqiao, and Yao Wenyuan. They took over many of the roles that Mao previously held, mainly focusing on ensuring ideological purity and the continuation of revolutionary political thoughts during the later stages of the Cultural Revolution.
The Cultural Revolution was a period of upheaval in China spearheaded by Mao to maintain the communist ideology by mobilizing youth through the Red Guards and targeting perceived "revisionists." Initially a response to perceived threats within the Communist Party and to restore Mao's vision, the movement led to widespread chaos and the persecution of intellectuals.