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AS in Medieval Europe, this had a harsh consequences for Chinese for Chinese territorial security.
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By the end of the Three Kingdoms in 208 AD, the barbarians were through knocking at the gates, and stormed the border to carve up China themselves.
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With the collapse of the Han dynasty, China became vulnerable to barbarian attack. While the powerful Xiongnu had been driven away leaving only more distant and lesser tribes, the collapse of the Han Dynasty and its mighty armies was news that traveled far.
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The brief rule to several powerful warlords, a period know as the Three Kingdoms, tired to steam the tide. However, they were more interested in conquering each other than protecting themselves which meant that political fragmentation was just getting started.
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The period is know as the Age of Division, with barbarians ruling the North while the Chinese continued to fight from the south - through not together of course.