- Ashoka belonged to the Mauryan Dynasty and was the third king.
- Before the Kalinga War, Ashoka conquered many lands and expanded his empire aggressively. However, the huge loss of life during the Kalinga War led him to adopt Buddhism and principles of nonviolence.
- After converting to Buddhism, Ashoka promoted Buddhist teachings, built monasteries, and sent missionaries to other countries. He is remembered today as an advocate of nonviolence.