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How did the Edicts of Ashoka help Unify India?

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: November 9th, 2023

The Edicts of Ashoka helped spread the idea of harmony, virtue, and peace, which encouraged the different cultures and religions within the Mauryan Empire to live in peace with one another. It helped speed up the initial unity of India. As a result of being horrified by the sheer number of casualties, Ashoka’s conquest of Kalinga marked a turning point in his life.

Edicts of Ashoka Helped Unify India

Two of Ashoka’s most well-known accomplishments are the Rock and Pillar Edicts and state sponsorship of Buddhism (which go hand in hand).

  • He issued decrees that encouraged nonviolence across his realm.
  • After serving in the military and experiencing violence personally, Ashoka was inspired to live a life of peace and non-violence.
  • All around the empire, Ashoka’s decrees were inscribed on pillars and walls.
  • These decrees emphasized Buddhism’s security, fairness, and general welfare.
  • The expansion of Buddhism in Asia was Ashoka’s most amazing legacy.
  • He effectively unified Buddhism over all of India.
  • He also allowed and fostered the development of other religions.
  • In exchange for a stop to hostilities, Ashoka agreed to make Buddhism the official religion of the Mauryan Empire. He followed the Dhamma (rules) that applied in his sphere.
  • Pushyamitra Shunga succeeded in overthrowing the Maurya Empire in 185 BC. He was a Brahmin, but he served as a general for Brihadratha, the last Mauryan emperor.
  • He is said to have assassinated Brihadratha in front of everyone and taken the throne of Pataliputra by force.
  • The Shungas ruled over Pataliputra and central India.

Summary:

How did the Edicts of Ashoka help Unify India?

The edicts of Ashoka helped unify India by spreading the ideas of harmony, peace, and virtue and encouraging the various religions and cultures of the Mauryan Empire to coexist peacefully. It helped accelerate the initial unity of India.

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