Ashoka the Great
304 BCE – 232 BCE (72 years)
After the bloody Kalinga War, he embraced Buddhism and championed non-violence, tolerance, and welfare. His Edicts are among the earliest evidence of a ruler committing to human rights.
Biography
Ashoka, also known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya dynasty. He ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from c. 268 to 232 BCE. After the devastating Kalinga War, he adopted Buddhism and non-violence.
Key Events
272 BCE
Became Emperor after struggle for succession
261 BCE
Kalinga War — turning point
260 BCE
Converted to Buddhism
250 BCE
Issued the Edicts of Ashoka