D.

220-1200.
The long-lived and glorious House of Han was brought to a close by the usual causes.

There were palace intrigues and a temporary usurpation of the throne, eunuchs of course being in the thick of the mischief; added to which a very serious rebellion broke out, almost as a natural consequence.

First and last there arose three aspirants to the Imperial yellow, which takes the place of purple in ancient Rome; the result being that, after some years of hard fighting, China was divided into three parts, each ruled by one of the three rivals.

The period is known in history as that of the Three Kingdoms, and lasted from A.D.220 to A.D.265.