Books/Writings
Asoka
Also known as: Ashoka
fl. 250 BCE
Indian

Mauryan King of India. After a conventional, ruthless, and successful military career dedicated to the pursuit of power and conquest, Asoka unexpectedly changed course. He converted to Buddhism and dedicated the rest of his life to useful public works and especially to the propagation of principles of non-violence, toleration, kindness (especially to slaves and inferiors), generosity, and charity collectively referred to as dhamma.

Asoka's new philosophy was circulated throughout the kingdom as a series of Edicts which were inscribed on large granite stones, some of which have survived.

Contemporaries
336–265 BCEZeno of Citium
310–250 BCETheocritus
259–210 BCEQin Shihuangdi
318–272 BCEPyrrhus
360–270 BCEPyrrho
247–182 BCEHannibal
260–203 BCEQuintus Fabius Maximus
341–270 BCEEpicurus
234–149 BCEMarcus Cato
310–230 BCEAristarchus of Samos