Ashoka got rid of harsh punishments like torture and the death penalty, and he said everyone, including parents, teachers and those of different religions, should be treated with respect. Ashoka’s edicts show his commitment to dharma (or dhamma ), which means doing the right thing towards people, animals and nature. After Ashoka died in 232 BCE, his son helped spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka, but the Mauryan Empire began to decline. Still, it was an important time in India’s history, showing how a uniýed state could work.
SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. Describe what you can see on this stamp. 2. Why might this kind of image have been chosen?
SOURCE2 A stamp issued on 15 August 1949, the second anniversary of modern India’s independence.
SOURCE3 Another of Ashoka’s pillars, this one with a single lion on top, at Kolhua. Behind it is a Buddhist stupa.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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