1. China was first unified under the Qin Dynasty but it only lasted briefly before being succeeded by the Han Dynasty, which ruled for around 400 years.
2. When the Han Dynasty began to decline, China split into three kingdoms - Wei, Wu, and Shu - who fought for control for 80 years with no clear winner.
3. Eventually, the Sima clan from the Wei kingdom rose to power and established the Jin Dynasty, absorbing the other kingdoms and reuniting China under a new ruling family.