Biography of Ashoka

I. Early Years

A. Ashoka becomes leader of the Mauryan Empire.

B. Ashoka expands the southern and eastern borders of his empire through wars.

C. A bloody battle causes Ashoka to give up violence.

II. Significant Events

A. Ashoka embraces Buddhism, supports nonviolence, peace, and love and repsects all living beings.

B. Ashoka visits holy sites, gives up war, and becomes a vegeterian.

C. Ashoka spreds Buddhism by sending Mahinda to Sri Lanka to convert its king to Buddhism.

D. Ashoka carves edicts into walls and rocks to unify his people.

E. The edicts include promoting Buddhist values, people's well being, justice, and keeping his empire secure.

III. Personal Attributes

A. Considerate- Ashoka Buddhist values make him qualify as considerate. He does not want to hurt any life and and go to war.

B. Open minded- Ashoka was a vicious general who fought many wars, but he started to consider the horrors of war and decided to give up war and adopt Buddhist values. His ability to question his lifestyle and adopt a new one makes him open minded.

C. Practical- While he was strongly Buddhist, Ashoka had a practical mind. He permitted slavery and allowed execuetion as a punishment for crimes. He had a strong army to defend his army and kept his territories.

D.Peaceful- Ashoka's values were peaceful, as he didn't want to hurt life beings and wanted to have good morals.

IV. Contributions to History

A. Ashoka expanded the Mauryan empire to its height.

B. Ashoka spread Buddhism by sending his son to convert the Sri Lankan king to Buddhism. Buddhism would spread across Asia in later years.

C. Ashoka's edicts influenced life for his people and his values are still known in India today.

V. My Impressions

Ashoka was a ruthless ruler at first, but his ability to reconsider his life and adopt good morals and live a peaceful life shows that people can turn around their lifes for the good.

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