In this activity, students will examine the causes and consequences of the Period of Disunion (220–589 AD), tracing how China fractured into competing kingdoms after the fall of the Han Dynasty and how various leaders attempted to reunify the country over nearly four centuries. They will also explore the rise and fall of the Sui Dynasty, considering how Emperor Wen’s reforms and infrastructure projects brought China together again, and why Emperor Yang’s overambitious military campaigns and heavy taxation ultimately led to the dynasty’s collapse and the transition to Tang rule.

It has 8 questions for students to answer, as well as a paragraph response section for them to demonstrate their understanding of the topic.