在那个被历史铭记的时代，三国鼎立的辉煌与沉浮交织，三个政权——曹魏、蜀汉和东吴，在220年至280年的长河中轮回生死。赤壁之战后的那一刻，曹操失去了江山的支配权，孙刘联军的胜利成就了三国鼎立的初形。
220年，当曹丕篡夺汉朝皇位，并称帝，他建立了曹魏，这标志着三国时期正式拉开帷幕。紧随其后的是刘备在成都延续了汉朝，以蜀汉之名继续前行。而222年，即使刘备在夷陵之战中失败，但他依然坚持不懈地寻求重建。在诸葛亮辅佐下，刘备去世后，他的儿子刘禅与孙权重新结盟。这一年，也是229年，孙权终于宣布称帝，以“吴”作为国家名称，使得东吴成为一个独立政体。
此后的几十载里，无数次北伐并未改变三足鼎立的地理格局。蜀汉方面，由诸葛亮和姜维等人带领不断挑战，而曹魏则逐渐由司马懿掌控大局。在263年的魏灭蜀之战中，司马昭发动了一场决定性的攻势，最终导致了蜀汉的覆灭仅仅两年之后，那个曾经握有实权的人物也离开了这个世界，其子司马炎废除了元帝，将自己推上了皇位，并以“晋”为国号，是为西晋。
而这段时间，被后人尊称为三国时期，因为当时天下的主导者们——曹魏、蜀（或简称Han）和吴—are the three powers that have been established. The year 220, when Cao Pi declared himself emperor and founded the state of Wei, is now known as the beginning of the Three Kingdoms period. The capital was moved to Luoyang in 265, after Cao Pi's death, and it lasted for 46 years until Cao Avian abdicated in favor of Sima Yan. During this time, Wei controlled nine northern states (north of the Yellow River), making it the most powerful force.
In 221 AD, Liu Bei declared himself emperor and established Shu Han or simply Shu as his kingdom. He chose to keep the name "Han" to emphasize legitimacy and because he controlled only one state (Shu). This is why later historians refer to him as Shu Han or just Shu.
The period began with a different start date according to scholars' different opinions; generally speaking there are narrow definitions which consider that history starts from Emperor Xian's abdication in 220 AD when he made Cao Pi king instead of an emperor; wider definitions also include times before then such as from Huang Chao uprising starting in 184 AD up until its end by establishing a unified government under Emperor Ling at around 189-192 AD.
Historians tend more towards discussing these events leading up to their eventual fall during their reigns rather than focusing solely on their time ruling over China proper but being unable to unite all other regions into one empire due largely due partially caused by both internal strife between members within each faction including power struggles among regional leaders who sought greater control over specific territories they were assigned or given authority over by various factions throughout history so this is what makes them look like they failed despite having successes during war efforts against external threats such as foreign invasions etc..
