Aśoka

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/aoka

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Aśoka born?Circa 304 BCE
2. What is the death?Circa 232 BCE
3. What is the imperial title?Chakravartin (Universal Monarch)
4. Who was Aśoka and what did he do as a king?Aśoka was a powerful king of the Mauryan Empire who first led many military campaigns. Later, he became famous for choosing peace and kindness instead of war.
5. Why did Aśoka decide to stop fighting after the Kalinga War?After seeing the huge loss of life and suffering in the Kalinga War, Aśoka felt very sad and decided that war was too cruel. He chose to follow Buddhist teachings and care for everyone.

Prakrit: A group of Middle Indo-Aryan languages spoken in ancient India, used in Aśoka's edicts.
Brahmi Script: An ancient Indian script from which many modern South and Southeast Asian scripts evolved.
Ahimsa: A principle of non-violence and non-injury towards all living beings, central to Buddhism and Aśoka's Dhamma.
Missionaries: People sent to spread a religious or political belief system to other regions.