Who was King Ashoka?
King Ashoka was The third emperor of India’s Mauryan dynasty and the first powerful monarch to embrace Buddhism. He came to the throne in 270 BC. In 260 BC his armies attacked Kalinga (modern Orissa) to expand the Mauryan empire. The campaign, though successful, resulted in such horrific loss of lives that Ashoka decided to renounce war forever. He converted to Buddhism and began a moral, spiritual and social renewal within his empire. Sweeping humanitarian reforms, useful public works, a new foreign policy of peaceful co-existence, and wildlife reserves were established. All religions were promoted, especially Buddhism. The Sangha was purified and unified, the third Council was convened and Buddhist missionaries were sent throughout abroad as far west as Cyrene, Egypt, Syria, and Macedonia. He died 232 BC and his many legends about his life and good deeds sprung up. His importance in spreading Buddhism throughout India and his humanitarian influence on monarchs throughout Asia through
