2. Born: 304 BCE Pataliputra
Died: 232 BCE Pataliputra (aged 71-72)
Place of birth
3. Policies of Ashoka’s government
- Ashoka pleaded for tolerance of different
religious sects in an attempt to create a
sense of harmony.
- The policy of Dharma also laid stress on
non-violence, which was to be practiced by
giving up war and conquests and also as a
restraint on the killing of animals.
4. Reforms
• Ashoka’s reforms such as efficient civil services, fair land taxation, and rules made for the protection of laws reveal his
administrative brilliance.
• The Pillars of Ashoka which were sculpted with 33 inscriptions depicting the edicts of Ashoka, still remained as
symbols of his commitment towards dharma.
• He had secret messengers who used to report him about the needs of the people.
• Ashoka also built safe roads, planted trees on both sides of the roads, built rest houses for travelers, dug wells and
established hospitals and schools.
• He encouraged and controlled foreign trade and boosted agriculture. He improved irrigation and drainage systems.
• Ashoka made great reforms that helped farmers a lot. He sanctioned loans to the farmers from state and helped them
cultivate well.
5. 0 MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF ASHOKA
THE GREAT
#1 He excelled in his responsibilities from an early age
#2 The Maurya Empire reached its greatest territorial extent under Ashoka
#3 He oversaw 40 years of peace and prosperity in his empire
#4 He played a key role in spreading of Buddhism across ancient Asia
#5 He adopted many welfare measures for people
#6 Art and architecture flourished during his reign
#7 Ashoka was the first ruler in noted history to advocate conservation measures for wildlife
#8 The emblem of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka
#9 Ashoka serves as an inspiration for his remarkable transformation
#10 He sponsored the construction of numerous infrastructure projects
7. Pillars of Ashoka
The pillars of Ashoka are a series of monolithic
columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent,
erected or at least inscribed with edicts by
the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka during his reign from c.
268 to 232 BCE.
8. Great Stupa
The Great Stupa (also called stupa no. 1) was
originally built in the 3rd century BCE by the
Mauryan emperor Ashoka and is believed to house
ashes of the Buddha. The simple structure was
damaged at some point during the 2nd century BCE. It
was later repaired and enlarged, and elements were
added; it reached its final form in the 1st century BCE.
The building is 120 feet (37 metres) wide and 54 feet
(17 metres) high.
9. Dhamek Stupa
Sanskrit version Dharmarajika Stupa, which can be translated as the Stupa of the reign of Dharma) is a massive stupa located at Sarnath
10. Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi Temple (literally: "Great Awakening Temple") or the Mahabodhi Mahavihar,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient, but much rebuilt and restored, Buddhist temple
in Bodh Gaya, marking the location where the Buddha is said to have
attained enlightenment.[1] Bodh Gaya (in Gaya district) is about 96 km (60 mi)
from Patna, Bihar state, India.
11. Barabar Caves
The Barabar Hill Caves (Hindi बराबर, Barābar) are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, dating from
the Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE), some with Ashokan inscriptions, located in the Makhdumpur region
of Jehanabad district, Bihar, India, 24 km (15 mi) north of Gaya.
