^Bravo
^lol you changed your location to india?
Way to go! Thanks for inspiration.
Asoka’s empire collapsed after his death since the Mauryan army didn’t fought any major wars (after Kalinga war).It is obvious that such an army will not be able to defend its empire when an invasion occurs.Asoka ruled the better part of subcontinent for 60 yrs with out any wars.He expanded his empire through teaching of Dharma without any wars.Buddhism that we see today in this world is mainly because of him.It is worthy of mention here that Buddhism was the most logical religion at that time.Hinduism preached sacrifies of animals for rituals along with practices such as Sati.On the other hand Jainism was too strict a religion to follow since according to Jainism you can’t even kill a small insect by mistake.Buddhism was midway between the two and comparatively more logical to follow.Buddhism teaches that main cause of sorrow/conflict is desire so if you can control desire you will be able to avoid most problems in life.
^Not true dude. He created his empire through a systematic campaign of brutal violence, and after he has successfully conquered most of India he became “nonviolent”. Neither did his conversion stop his military campaigns…eg he crushed an uprising in Afghanistan in later years.
Source?
Asoka realised in the Kalinga War that the real conquest was not the conquest by the sword but the conquest of the heart. He came to believe that the victory by Dharma was the best victory. He assured other peoples of India, especially the forest-dwellers, that there should be no harm caused to them if they too desisted from doing harm.
And, to the countries outside the boundaries of the Maurya Empire both inside and outside India. Asoka sent his missions of peace to establish a new type of relation, till then unknown to history. Advocating the principles of love and Dharma for all time to come Asoka desired to put an end to man’s desire for war.
His Edict concluded with the following instruction to his successors:
“The purpose for which this edict of Dharma has been inscribed is that my sons and grandsons should not think of making new” conquests and should be satisfied in abstaining from conquests by arms, as well as, in prescribing light punishment. They should consider conquest by Dharma as the only conquest, as that is of value both in this world and in the other world”. No war in history ended by opening a real path for peace as did the Kalinga War. And no monarch after victory turned into a monk to preach the gospels of non-violence and love as did Asoka.
The direct immediate effect of the Kalinga War was the conversion of Asoka to Buddhism. Two and a half years after his conversion, he became an active devotee of that religion and prepared for his great role as a missionary. Wisely enough did Asoka rule as a monarch while living the life of a monk-missionary for the spread of Buddhism as well as the essence of what might be called universal morality.
While the greatest result of the Kalinga War was the transformation of Asoka from a Chandasoka to Dharmasoka, the war had other results too. Among these, the following results, deserve mention. Firstly, Asoka changed the character of the Maurya administration from one of thorough absolutism to that of benevolent paternalism. His role as a king got reoriented.
The administration was directed towards all-round welfare activities for the benefit of all people. It was in his Kalinga Rock Edict in Dhauli, near the ancient capital of Kalinga, Tosali, that Asoka announced the finest principle of administration saying: “All men are my children, and just as I desire for my own children that they should have bliss and happiness both in this world and the other world, so also I desire the same for all men”. He ordered his officers at Tosali to “cultivate love for all persons”. His Rock Edict at Jaugada also contained the same famous announcement.
Secondly, the Kalinga War, which led to the conversion of Asoka, paved path for the spread of Buddhism all over India and outside. The violence of the war brought about its antithesis, non-violence, on which Buddhism laid great emphasis. Without the Kalinga War, Buddhism might have lingered as a minor religion of India instead of being the mass religion of Asia in due course of time.
Asoka’s faith in Buddhism and his missionary activities for the spread of that religion were the direct outcome of the Kalinga War. It was from a Kalinga sea port, Tamralipiti, that Asoka sent his daughter Sanghamitra to Ceylon to preach Buddhism there.
Thirdly, if history has named Asoka as the greatest monarch of world history, that name has been written in the blood of the Kalinga people. Asoka is a rare example in the annals of rulers who gave up his faith in war after winning a great victory. His conquest of Kalinga was his first conquest which became the last, instead of encouraging him for further conquests. The Kalinga War was thus a milestone in history for mankind’s search for peace and human brotherhood.
Finally, the Kalinga War also had its effect on the people of Kalinga. Buddhism took a deep root in the land. In future to follow, it went out to South-East Asian countries in different waves, carried by the Kalingan merchants and colonists.
Politically, the defeat in the Kalinga War, did not subdue the martial quality of the Kalinga people. In fact, Kalinga rose to greater eminence as a military power after the Maurya rule. She became independent not long after Asoka’s death. Not long thereafter a royal dynasty, famous as the Chedi or the Cheti dynasty, rose to power in Kalinga.
One of the kings of the dynasty, Aira Mahameghavahana Kharavela humbled Magadha and conquered extensive territories both in northern and southern India, and made Kalingan empire. Kalinga’s maritime activities began to grow and in subsequent ages, vast colonies were established by her people across the Indian Ocean.
Made up. Never happened.
I will agree IF CVM=HG WELLS
CvM vs RR. Never expected.
Dear Sirs, being Indian is like being untouchable.
FTFY
Still you converted to an Indian on AF?
Good progress from black to brown!Any ways
What about slaves? Is that good?
Dear RR,I pray you to Dalits Caste.
^ lol
RR is CmV is Gabe is ab sucker