After the fall of the Han dynasty in 220 AD, China was without a strong ruler and devolved into chaos. But in 589, an emperor named Wendi reunited northern and southern China and reinstalled a strong central government, the basis for the start of a golden age.

The greatest achievement of the Sui was the connections they created, uniting the country. The Grand Canal connected the Chiang Jiang to the Huang He, providing a steady corridor of trade between north and south China. The Sui also repaired the Great Wall, providing a layer of protection between China and northern invaders. Because of these massive state projects, the people were heavily overtaxed and overworked, leading to a rebellion and the assassination of the second Sui emperor in 618.