Period of Disunion and the Sui Dynasty Lesson

In this lesson, 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. Students will have the opportunity to achieve this through choosing their own method of learning, from reading and research options, as well as the chance to engage in extension activities. This lesson includes a self-marking quiz for students to demonstrate their learning.