What happened in china during the period between the han and sui dynasties?

When the Han dynasty fell in 220, China entered a long period of warfare, invasion and rivalry between small nations. This era, known as the "Period of Disunity," lasted until the rise of the Sui dynasty in 589. Although the Sui were unable to found a lasting empire, they reunified the country and set the stage for the golden age of imperial China under the Tang.