AHOSKAAHOSKATHETHE

MAUYRANMAUYRANEMPIREEMPIRE

http://www.mitchellteachers.org/WorldHistory/IndiaUnit/images/ashoka/MauryanEmpireMaplarge.jpg

India consisted of many small India consisted of many small kingdoms from around 1900 B.C.E. kingdoms from around 1900 B.C.E. until the founding of the until the founding of the MauryanMauryan Empire Empire around 322 B.C.E. At this around 322 B.C.E. At this

time, a nobleman named time, a nobleman named Chandragupta Chandragupta MauryaMaurya conquered all of conquered all of northern India and set up a strong northern India and set up a strong central government. Chandragupta central government. Chandragupta was deathly afraid of enemies and was deathly afraid of enemies and used his army and spies to protect used his army and spies to protect himself. After Chandragupta died in himself. After Chandragupta died in 297 B.C.E., his son Bindusara and 297 B.C.E., his son Bindusara and grandson Ashoka succeeded him.grandson Ashoka succeeded him.

Ashoka at the brutal battle at Kalinga

The Mauryan Empire reached its height The Mauryan Empire reached its height during Ashoka's reign from around during Ashoka's reign from around

269 to 232 B.C.E. After a brutal battle 269 to 232 B.C.E. After a brutal battle in which he conquered the kingdom in which he conquered the kingdom of of KalingaKalinga, Ashoka rejected violence , Ashoka rejected violence and converted to Buddhism. Ashoka and converted to Buddhism. Ashoka practiced Buddhist values by giving practiced Buddhist values by giving

up wars of conquest, becoming a up wars of conquest, becoming a vegetarian, and urging his subjects to vegetarian, and urging his subjects to respect each other. However, Ashoka respect each other. However, Ashoka still allowed slavery and kept all the still allowed slavery and kept all the

land that the Mauryans had land that the Mauryans had conquered.conquered.

Ashoka at the brutal battle at Kalinga

One of Ashoka's edicts inscribed on a pillar

in Delphi

Ashoka created a strong Ashoka created a strong empire by spreading his empire by spreading his BuddhistBuddhist values through values through

messages, or edicts. Ashoka messages, or edicts. Ashoka urged his citizens to act urged his citizens to act

morally and responsibly. The morally and responsibly. The edicts also described edicts also described

Ashoka's own efforts to live Ashoka's own efforts to live morally and to maintain morally and to maintain

peace for his people.peace for his people.

An Ashokan pillarbuilt in 243 B.C.E.

at Lauriya Nandangarth in northeast India

Ashoka's edicts were carved on Ashoka's edicts were carved on cave walls, rocks, and towering cave walls, rocks, and towering pillars. Skilled craftspeople built pillars. Skilled craftspeople built

and decorated the highly and decorated the highly polished stone pillars with polished stone pillars with

Buddhist symbols and animals. Buddhist symbols and animals. The pillars, rocks and caves The pillars, rocks and caves

were located along important were located along important roads and at important locations roads and at important locations

where the greatest number of where the greatest number of people would seepeople would see them.them.

An Ashokan pillarbuilt in 243 B.C.E.

at Lauriya Nandangarth in northeast India

Ashoka's Edicts (Exerpts):Ashoka's Edicts (Exerpts):

"On the roads...trees have been planted "On the roads...trees have been planted for the enjoyment of animals and men. I for the enjoyment of animals and men. I

have had ponds dug and shelters have had ponds dug and shelters erected along the roads. Everywhere I erected along the roads. Everywhere I

have had wells dug.“have had wells dug.“

"It is good to be obedient to one's mother "It is good to be obedient to one's mother and father, friends, and relatives. It is and father, friends, and relatives. It is

good not only to spend little, but to own good not only to spend little, but to own the minimum of property."the minimum of property."

"My officers have been appointed for the welfare "My officers have been appointed for the welfare [safety] and happiness of the...people. I have [safety] and happiness of the...people. I have

given them... authority in judgment and given them... authority in judgment and punishment. But it is desirable that there should punishment. But it is desirable that there should

be uniformity [sameness] in judicial [trial] be uniformity [sameness] in judicial [trial] procedure and punishment.“procedure and punishment.“

"This world and the other [the world after death] "This world and the other [the world after death] are hard to gain without great love of are hard to gain without great love of

Righteousness [correct behavior], great self-Righteousness [correct behavior], great self-examination, great obedience, great effort.“examination, great obedience, great effort.“

"If the unconquered peoples on my border ask "If the unconquered peoples on my border ask what is my will, they should understand this: I what is my will, they should understand this: I

desire that they should trust me and should have desire that they should trust me and should have only happiness in their dealings with me."only happiness in their dealings with me."

"There is no gift comparable to the gift of "There is no gift comparable to the gift of Dharma [righteousness, or correct behavior], Dharma [righteousness, or correct behavior], and this is: good behavior towards slaves and and this is: good behavior towards slaves and

servants, obedience to parents, generosity servants, obedience to parents, generosity towards friends, acquaintances, and towards friends, acquaintances, and

relatives... and abstention [staying away] relatives... and abstention [staying away] from killing living beings.“from killing living beings.“

"Men who are sentenced to death are to be "Men who are sentenced to death are to be given three days' respite [waiting period given three days' respite [waiting period

before being put to death]. Thus their before being put to death]. Thus their relations may plead for their lives, or [the] relations may plead for their lives, or [the]

men may make donations or undertake a fast men may make donations or undertake a fast [not eat] for a better rebirth in the next life."[not eat] for a better rebirth in the next life."