The Three Kingdoms, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties: A History of China

The Three Kingdoms, the Two Jin Dynasties, and the Northern and Southern Dynasties (A Look at Chinese History Series) tells the story of the Three Kingdoms and the Two Jin Dynasties. At the end of the Eastern Han, military factions carved up the realm and fought among themselves. Society fell into turmoil and the country split apart. This situation was, in essence, the inevitable result of the growth of powerful landowning families since the Eastern Han. Cao Cao's power gradually grew, and for a time he unified the north. But after his defeat at Red Cliffs, his attempt to unite China failed. The forces of Sun and Liu grew stronger, and the Three Kingdoms took shape. During this period, all three states focused on developing their economies. The Western Jin briefly unified the country, but sharp and complex internal conflicts quickly brought it down. The Eastern Jin held on in the south while facing off against regimes established by peoples who had migrated inland. The Former Qin briefly unified the north and sought to unite China, but its defeat at the Battle of Fei River dashed that ambition once again.