In this lesson
-Explore national symbols and their meanings
-Understand the significance of Emperor's Ashola's reign
-Learn about Buddhism and non-violence
-Prompt discussion about religion and government
-Explore national symbols and their meanings
-Understand the significance of Emperor's Ashola's reign
-Learn about Buddhism and non-violence
-Prompt discussion about religion and government
Video Resources
Edicts Of Ashoka from the PBS series 'Story of India'
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi from UNESCO
Edicts Of Ashoka from the PBS series 'Story of India'
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi from UNESCO
Extension activities
-What was happening in other parts of the world such as Greece and China when the Mauryan Empire was at its peak under Emperor Ashoka is the 3rd century BCE?
-Create your own edicts. Where would you place them and what would they say?
-What was happening in other parts of the world such as Greece and China when the Mauryan Empire was at its peak under Emperor Ashoka is the 3rd century BCE?
-Create your own edicts. Where would you place them and what would they say?
Emperor Ashoka: video resources and pictures
Keywords: Emperor Ashoka, national symbols, Buddhism, edicts, Maurya, Mauryan Empire, Brahmi Script, dhamma, dharma, Jataka tales, world history, giant empires, religion, non-violence, religion and governement, social justice, human rights
Emperor Ashoka (304-232 BCE) was the third king of the Maurya Dynasty. He ruled a truly massive kingdom that stretched from the Hindu Kush to the Bay of Bengal. It was India's first great empire. It is not just that Ashoka ably ruled this huge empire but the quality of social justice that he brought to his already strong administration.
Remorseful after his bloody campaign and conquest of Kalinga, Ashoka embraced Buddhism. Thereafter reverence for life, tolerance, compassion and peaceful co-existance were the cornerstones of his administration. Under him the earliest know bans on slavery and capital punishment as well as environmental regulations came into place.
The Story of India from PBS http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/6.html
And from the timeline http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/timeline/2/
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi from UNESCO - video
Updated March 2011