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Buddhism and the First Unification of India

Buddhism and the First Unification of India. Introduction The Mauryas Unify India Ashoka's Rule Ashoka's Edicts Summary. Introduction. King Ashoka used Buddhist values to unify India After bloody battle, Ashoka vowed to give up violence Promise led him to the Buddhist religion

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Buddhism and the First Unification of India

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  1. Buddhism and the First Unification of India • Introduction • The Mauryas Unify India • Ashoka's Rule • Ashoka's Edicts • Summary

  2. Introduction • King Ashoka used Buddhist values to unify India • After bloody battle, Ashoka vowed to give up violence • Promise led him to the Buddhist religion • Spread Buddhist beliefs through edicts • Mauryan Empire • Flourished from 322 to 187 BCE • Fought wars of conquest to build empire

  3. The Mauryas Unify India • First leaders to unify India • Chandragupta Maurya began building empire in the 320's BCE • Conquered small northern kingdoms that were weak, wasted money, and fought among themselves • Had an arm of 700,00 soldiers and 9,000 elephants • Kept empire strong through force • Used his army, a network of spies and torture to keep his subjects in line

  4. The Mauryas Unify India • Chandragupta's Rule • Created strong central government • Wrote laws • Provided water for farmers • Built a royal road over 1,000 miles long • End of Life • gave up his power • became an ascetic • lived in poverty • traveled with monks

  5. Ashoka's Rule • Ruled from 269 to 232 BCE • Expanded the empire to the south and east through a series of wars • Rejected violence after one brutal battle • Embraced Buddhism • Supported the values of love, peace, and nonviolence • respected all living things • Gave up hunting • Became a strict vegetarian • visited holy Buddhist sites • Gave up wars of conquest

  6. Ashoka's Rule • Spread Buddhism • Urged subjects to be kind, respectful, and moral • Hold them to respect elders, tolerate people of different religions, treat servants well • Saw himself as a father figure • Sent son, Mahinda to Ceylon • Converted king to Buddhism • Became the official faith of the kingdom

  7. Ashoka's Rule • Practical Side • Allowed slavery • Permitted people to be executed for serious crimes • Kept a strong army • Did not return any lands already conquered

  8. Ashoka's Edicts • Buddhist Values • people should be loving and respectful • practice nonviolence • not get too attached to worldly things • act morally • General Welfare • Good health • shelter • clean water • enough food • Justice • fair laws • treated for people in court or jail • Security • Concerned enemies of the Mauryan Empire • Dealt with issues of peace and conquest

  9. Ashoka's Edicts • Carved into walls, rocks, and tall pillars in public places • Goal • provide a strong foundation for his empire • Broke into separate kingdoms 45 years after his death

  10. Summary • Ashoka introduced Buddhism to Ceylon • Buddhism spread from northwestern India to Central Asia • Travel to China, Korea, and Japan

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